A Non-Linear Finite Element Model for the Determination of Elastic and Thermal Properties of Nanocomposites

Abstract

This thesis presents a non-linear model for the thermal and elastic properties of single-walled carbon nanotube reinforced polymer composites. Finite Element Analysis (FEA), in conjunction with the Embedded Fiber Method (EFM), is used to calculate the effective stress-strain curve and thermal conductivity of the composite material. First, the geometry of a user-defined volume fraction of nanotubes is randomly generated and their properties are incorporated into the polymer matrix using the EFM. Non-linear FEA is next performed to account for the non-linear properties of the polymer matrix and the carbon nanotubes. Finally, Monte Carlo Analysis of five hundred random microstructures is performed to capture the stochastic nature of the random fiber generation and to derive statistically sound results. The model is validated by comparison with several different experiments reported in the open literature.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA505169

Entities

People

  • Paul Elsbernd

Organizations

  • Rice University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Carbon Nanotubes
  • Composite Materials
  • Elastic Properties
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanical Working
  • Mechanics
  • Micromechanics
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • Molecular Dynamics
  • Polymer Matrix Composites
  • Stress Strain Relations
  • Thermal Properties

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.