Stress concentrations in single walled carbon nanotube reinforced metal and polymer composites under uniaxial loading

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Abstract :

Considering orthotropic elastic properties for the CNT and perfect bonding condition for the interface, a Finite Element (FE) analysis is herein carried out on a SWCNT reinforced composite system to obtain the stress distribution resulting from axial loading for the cases of matrix being metal and polymer. The high stress concentration locations are found to occur at the interface of the CNT and the matrix at the end-cap region. CNTs are found to provide exceptional reinforcement for composites under tensile loading. The results from this study also help to understand the load transfer mechanism between the SWCNT and the matrix.