2 - Numerical characterization of micro- and nanocomposites

Abstract

Additive inclusion significantly can improve thermomechanical properties of matrixes. Many researchers have focused their studies on determining the effective thermal and mechanical properties of micro- and nanocomposites. Modeling mechanical and thermal properties of these types of composites is one of the most important challenges in materials science. In this chapter, at first, different approaches to realize and reconstruct representative volume elements (RVEs) are discussed, and in the second step, numerical characterization is applied on RVEs to calculate effective thermal properties (such as thermal conductivity) and mechanical properties. Different types of samples with linear and nonlinear constitutive material models are discussed, and interphase zone are taken into account in the modeling of nanocomposites. Different types of RVEs which include different categories of inclusions like cylindrical, penny, helical, and ellipsoidal are generated, and effective mechanical and thermal properties are calculated.