Damage Analysis of Various CNT Architectures in Nanocomposites Using a Multiscale Approach

Abstract

A multiscale modeling framework is developed to study damage evolution and failure in carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced nanocomposites with different CNT configurations. The framework models the constituents of the nanocomposite explicitly, combines it in a single representative unit cell (RUC), and describes the evolution of damage in these systems under loading. The damage evolution methodology integrates information from atomistic simulations pertaining to polymer chain sliding and bond dissociation using continuum damage mechanics. Two different CNT architectures - randomly dispersed CNTs and radially grown CNTs are investigated and damage initiation sites and damage evolution trends are observed under quasi-static loading conditions. Results indicate that the presence of CNTs cause a unique stress state at the sub micro scale which can lead to accelerated damage progression and can be mitigated by architectural reconfiguration of the CNTs.