Multi-scale modeling of carbon nanotube reinforced composites with a fiber break

Present paper deals with the study of stress distribution in the vicinity of a broken carbon nanotube (CNT) in CNT-based fiber reinforced composites. Three dimensional finite elements analysis (FEA) using multi-scale modeling has been done considering a square representative volume element (RVE) and the effect of a broken CNT on the adjacent CNTs and on the matrix has been studied for CNT/Epoxy and CNT/Titanium composites. The distributions of stresses in the broken CNT, at the interface, and in the adjacent CNTs have been analyzed for different volume fractions. It is observed that the ineffective length of the broken CNT is dependent on the volume fraction as well as on the type of matrix materials. The magnitude of the interfacial shear stress as well as the stress concentration in the vicinity of the broken CNT is also influenced by the fiber volume fraction and the type of matrix materials.

► Multi-scale modeling of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced composites using finite element method.
► Stress distribution in the vicinity of a broken CNT in a CNT reinforced composite.
► Estimation of ineffective fiber length of broken CNT.
► Effect of volume fraction on stress distributions around the broken CNT.
► Effect of volume fraction and matrix material on the stress concentration factor in the adjacent CNTs.