Finite element modelling of carbon fiber - carbon nanostructure - polymer hybrid composite structures

Abstract

The present study deals with the numerical modelling of hybrid laminated composites, which can be proved especially useful in the engineering and maintenance of advanced aerospace primary structures. The lamina is comprised of continuous carbon fibers, thermosetting epoxy polymer matrix, as well as carbon nanostructures, such as graphene or carbon nanotubes, inclusions. Halpin-Tsai equations combined with results obtained from nanomechanical analysis are employed in order to evaluate the elastic properties of the carbon nanostructure/polymer matrix. Then, the obtained elastic properties of the hybrid matrix are used to calculate the orthotropic macro-mechanical properties of the unidirectional composite lamina. A hybrid composite plate is modelled as a 2D structure via the utilization of 4-node, quadrilateral, stress/displacement shell finite elements with reduced integration formulation. The convergence and analysis accuracy are tested. The mechanical performance of the hybrid composites is investigated by considering specific configurations and applying appropriate loading and boundary conditions. The results are compared with the corresponding ones found in the open literature, where it is possible.

Polymeric hybrid nanocomposites processing and finite element modeling: An overview

“…Based on Takayanagi’s two-phase model, Ji et al proposed a three-phase model including the matrix interfacial region, and fillers are proposed to calculate the tensile modulus of polymer nanocomposites. Georgantzinos et al 94 presented the FEM framework for nanomechanical analysis and described elastic properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymeric hybrid nanocomposite by combining Halpin-Tsai equations with nanomechanical analysis results. Saeed Saber-Samandari et al 95 developed a new three-phase model including reinforcement, interphase, and matrix to evaluate the elastic modulus of polymer nanocomposites.…”

Vibration Analysis of Carbon Fiber-Graphene-Reinforced Hybrid Polymer Composites Using Finite Element Techniques

“…The three-dimensional (3D) Halpin-Tsai model for randomly oriented discontinuous rectangular reinforcements is utilized to compute the Young’s modulus of the hybrid graphene/polymer matrix. According to this model, the Young’s modulus of the graphene/polymer matrix can be predicted by the following equation [ 34 ] where and where and stand for volume fraction and thickness of graphene, respectively. Furthermore, is the Young’s modulus of the polymer matrix, while , , , and are Halpin-Tsai parameters, depending on the geometry of the reinforcement.…”

“…The hybrid composite plates of these characteristics, as well as different carbon nanostructure inclusion types and volume fractions, have been successfully validated [ 34 ] for bending loading conditions. Since the method is validated, it can be expanded for the solution of the free vibration problem.…”

Design of Laminated Composite Plates with Carbon Nanotube Inclusions against Buckling: Waviness and Agglomeration Effects

“…Embedding a carbonaceous nanofiller in a polymer resin has been proved to be conducive to the mechanical and physical properties of carbon–polymer nanocomposites even at a low content. Graphitic nanofillers, such as CNTs [ 35 ], graphene [ 36 ], and graphite nanoplatelets, when appropriately dispersed in a polymer matrix, provide a strong impetus for both thermomechanical [ 37 , 38 , 39 ] and electrical performance [ 40 ].…”