Modeling Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Composite Materials

Abstract

Micromechanics modeling is employed to characterize the mechanical behavior of a transversely isotropic, isothermal material system of a hollow carbon nanotube embedded in a polymeric matrix. The characterization yields five independent constants of the homogenized system. In particular, the derivation of the transverse shear modulus is a focus of the work because, up to this point, it has not been satisfactorily resolved. Numerical examples of each of the independent constants, obtained from the derived expressions, are presented, and are based on appropriate values of the properties of the carbon nanotube and epoxy matrix. The numerical results are presented graphically.