Estimating the effect of chirality and size on the mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes through finite element modelling

Muhammad Jibran Shahzad Zuberi, Volkan Esat

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered to be one of the contemporary materials exhibiting superior mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. A new generation state-of-theart composite material, carbon nanotube reinforced polymer (CNTRP), utilizes carbon nanotubes as the reinforcing fibre element. CNTRPs are highly promising composite materials possessing the potential to be used in various areas such as automotive, aerospace, defence, and energy sectors. The CNTRP composite owes its frontline mechanical material properties mainly to the improvement provided by the CNT filler. There are challenging issues regarding CNTRPs such as determination of material properties, and effect of chirality and size on the mechanical material properties of carbon nanotube fibres, which warrant development of computational models. Along with the difficulties associated with experimentation on CNTs, there is paucity in the literature on the effects of chirality and size on the mechanical properties of CNTs. Insight into the aforementioned issues may be brought through computational modelling time- and cost-effectively when compared to experimentation. This study aims to investigate the effect of chirality and size of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on its mechanical material properties so that their contribution to the mechanical properties of CNTRP composite may be understood more clearly. Nonlinear finite element models based on molecular mechanics using various element types substituting C-C bond are generated to develop zigzag, armchair and chiral SWNTs over a range of diameters. The predictions collected from simulations are compared to the experimental and computational studies available in the literature.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationApplied Mechanics; Automotive Systems; Biomedical Biotechnology Engineering; Computational Mechanics; Design; Digital Manufacturing; Education; Marine and Aerospace Applications
PublisherWeb Portal ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
ISBN (Electronic)9780791845837
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes
EventASME 2014 12th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis, ESDA 2014 - Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: 25 Jul 201427 Jul 2014

Publication series

NameASME 2014 12th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis, ESDA 2014
Volume1

Conference

ConferenceASME 2014 12th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis, ESDA 2014
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityCopenhagen
Period25/07/1427/07/14

Keywords

  • Carbon nanotubes
  • Chirality
  • Finite element modelling
  • Mechanical properties

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