Title: Hierarchical Multiscale Modeling Of The Effect Of Carbon Nanotube Damage On The Elastic Properties Of Polymer Nanocomposites

G. Dominguez-Rodriguez,F. Aviles
Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

A. Tapia,
Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

A.K. Chaurasia,
Engineering Science and Mechanics Dept., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
G.D. Seidel,
Dept. of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA

Journal of Mechanics of Materials and Structures -- 2017 -- Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 263-287

Abstract
The influence of various levels of carbon nanotube (CNT) structural damage on the transversely isotropic elastic properties of CNTs and CNT/polymer composites is investigated through a hierarchical multiscale modeling strategy. Assessment of the effect of structural damage on the CNTs is first conducted by removing C-C bonds and using atomistic finite element analysis. The composite cylinder method is then used to model composites whose effective properties are obtained from the Mori–Tanaka method. The axial, radial, transverse shear and in-plane shear moduli of CNTs decrease ~70% for 10% damage. This decrease is more pronounced for CNTs with small radii, and when the broken bonds coalesce. The transverse Poisson’s ratio of CNTs increases about six times for 10% damage. When these defective CNTs are used in polymer composites, the axial elastic modulus of the composite reduces by ~80% while the transverse Poisson’s ratio increases about three times.