Effect of Nanocomposite Microstructure on Stochastic Elastic Properties: An Finite Element Analysis Study

Abstract

This paper addresses the effect of microstructure uncertainties on elastic properties of nanocomposites using finite element analysis (FEA) simulations. Computer-simulated microstructures were generated to reflect the variability observed in nanocomposite microstructures. The effect of waviness, agglomeration, and orientation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were investigated. Generated microstructures were converted to image-based 2D FEA models. Two hundred different realizations of microstructures were generated for each microstructure type to capture the stochastic response. The results confirm previously reported findings and experimental results. The results show that for a given fiber volume fraction, CNTs orientation, waviness, and agglomeration result in different elastic properties. It was shown that while a given microstructural feature will improve the elastic property, it will increase the variability in the elastic properties.

Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Injection-Molded MWCNT-Reinforced Polyamide 66 Hybrid Composites

“…Mechanical properties [10] and electrical conductivity [28] are highly dependent upon the dispersion of the reinforcement phase. To evaluate the specimen microstructure, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were acquired.…”

“…The resulting composite properties are driven by their microstructural features [8,9]. Features such as agglomeration, orientation (aligned vs. random), geometry (straight vs. wavy), and size influence the mechanical properties [10,11]. Most studies focus on one set of material properties without considering its corresponding effect on another set.…”

“…However, experimental results show that the addition of fillers can degrade one material property while improving another. For instance, the presence of an agglomerated region of fillers is detrimental to mechanical properties [10], but it could improve electrical conductivity. Therefore, a simultaneous evaluation of mechanical and electrical properties of composite specimens was addressed in this study.…”

“…Other efforts have investigated polymer composites filled with carbon black and carbon nanotubes [23], and carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes [24]. For polymer composites, analytical and numerical models have been developed for electrical conductivity [25][26][27] as well as mechanical properties [10,11]. These models consider volume fraction, shape, size, aspect ratio, and orientation of fillers.…”

Open hole tensile testing of 3D printed continuous carbon fiber reinforced composites

“…Few studies have been dedicated to the mechanism and procedure for manufacturing 3D printed composites [1][2][3][4] and few others have focused on the mechanical properties of 3D printed composite samples. 2,[5][6][7][8] As composite properties are driven by their microstructure, [9][10][11] microstructural analysis of 3D parts is equally important. There are several intrinsic challenges with 3D printing of composite parts.…”