Nonlinear mechanical response of carbon nanotube/rubbercomposites subject to various types of loadings

In this study a new finite element model for determining nonlinear behavior of carbon nanotube/rubber composite is proposed. Carbon nanotube (CNT) is modeled based on modified molecular structuralmechanics using 3D beam elements. The model of CNT at the atomistic level is based on an elastic beam element of general section which distinguishes the in-plane and out-of-plane bending stiffnesses. In thiscase the beam section geometry and material descriptions are combined. Because of hyperelastic behavior of the rubber, it is modeled as continuum medium using hybrid elements obeying polynomial strainenergy potential. CNT is embedded in rubber and the representative volume element (RVE) is built. The Interface between CNT and rubber is considered as van der Waals forces defined by Lennard-Jonesrelation and modeled using nonlinear connector elements in Abaqus code. RVE is subjected to tensile, bending and torsional loading to extract it's mechanical properties. Elastic modulus of nanocomposite arecalculated and their variation with different volume fractions of CNT is investigated. The results indicate a large improvement in the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite

Keywords:

Multiscale modeling , Finite element analysis (FEA) , Nanocomposite , Rubber , Carbon nanotube (CNT)