Abstract
A micromechanics model of the thermomechanical constitutive behavior and micro-structural inhomogeneity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/shape memory polymer (SMP) composites is presented. It is assumed that the CNTs are elastic and the SMP obeys a thermomechanical constitutive law. The effective properties of CNT/SMP composites are examined using a micro-mechanics method. The effect of CNT aggregation in the composite, frequently encountered in real engineering situations, is studied. The degree of aggregation is described by an aggregation coefficient, and the effective properties of SMP composites with aggregated CNTs are calculated using a stepping scheme. It is shown that the degree of CNT aggregation dramatically influences the effective properties of the CNT/SMP composites. A homogeneous microstructure leads to maximum levels of effective composite properties.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 33-38 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Composites Part B: Engineering |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- A. Nano-structures
- A. Smart materials
- Aggregation of CNTs
- B. Mechanical properties
- C. Micromechanics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ceramics and Composites
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering