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Finite Element Simulation of Stiffener Free Composite Panels with Carbon Nanotubes
Abstract
This paper presents a finite element modelling approach for analyzing composite structure stitched to stiffeners using nanotubes with very large stiffness. The composite structures with stiffeners plays a significant role in modern day composite design in automotive, naval and aerospace industries. First a composite plate under pure shear buckling is analyzed for determining its buckling load and buckling mode using finite element model and validated against published data. Then an approach is proposed to eliminate the stiffeners by replacing them with carbon nanotubes with very large stiffness. The stiffness of the nanomaterial is determined using a homogenization approach based on the Representative Volumetric Element (RVE) using a unit cell subjected to unit loading in normal, transverse and shear directions. The stiffeners are replaced by inserting nanomaterial submerged into the epoxy material. The stiffness values determined form the RVE test are then implemented into the composite plate to produce similar buckling load and modes. Such structure designed with nanomaterial can be 3D printed with existing 3D printing technology.
DOI
10.12783/asc2017/15207
10.12783/asc2017/15207