Hossein Hemmatiana - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
Abdolhossein Fereidoonb. - bFaculty ofMechanical Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan,Iran
Morteza Rajabpour - cDepartment ofMechanical Engineering, Firoozkoh branch, Islamic Azad University, Firoozkoh

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) demonstrate unusually high stiffness, strength and resilience, and may become an ideal reinforcing material for new composites. This paper describes a finite element formulation that is appropriate forthe numerical prediction of the mechanical behavior ofpolypropylenematrix nanocomposite.In current work it is assumed that the deformed cross sectional area of CNT is ellipse.Non-linear spring-based line elements are employed to simulate the vander Waals bonds.Elastic moduli of nanocomposites are evaluated using a representative volume element (RVE) based on the continuum mechanics and FEM.A significant enhancement in the stiffness of the polymer owing to the adding of the ECNTsis found. Addition of ECNTs in a matrix at a determined volume fraction can increase the stiffness of the composite

Elastic moduli, Polypropylene nanocomposite,Carbon nanotubes, Elliptic carbon nanotubes, Representative volume element