Abstract
An analytical model was developed to study the interlaminar fracture behaviour of polymer composite reinforced by carbon fibres grafted with carbon nanotubes. Delamination properties, such as load with displacement or crack (R-curve) and toughness with crack (GR-curve), can be obtained from this model. The bridging laws presented, based on the CNT pullout mechanism (CNT pullout from polymer matrix) and the CNT sword-in-sheath mechanism (CNT breakage), were incorporated into the proposed analytical model to investigate the influence of the structure of CNT growth onto CFs (CNT@CFs) on delamination properties. The numerical results showed that different toughening mechanisms led to different features of GR-curves, R-curves, and load with displacement curves. Parametric study demonstrated that strengthening the CNT@CF interface resulted in significant improvement in toughness. Further, it was found that elastic deformation of CNTs played an important role in the toughness improvement in the CNT sword-in-sheath mechanism, but no such role was evident in the CNT pullout mechanism.
Highlights
Carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite laminates have been widely used in weight-critical structures, such as aircraft, spacecraft, and racing cars, due to their excellent mass-specific mechanical properties [1,2]
One effective method for improving delamination resistance without degrading in-plane properties is the incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into the polymer matrix region [5]
Tong et al [18] presented an analytical model based on a stress-intensity factor solution to study the parametric effect on toughness improvement in CNT growth onto CFs (CNT@CFs) hybrid composite laminate
Summary
Carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite laminates have been widely used in weight-critical structures, such as aircraft, spacecraft, and racing cars, due to their excellent mass-specific mechanical properties [1,2]. Tong et al [18] presented an analytical model based on a stress-intensity factor solution to study the parametric effect on toughness improvement in CNT@CF hybrid composite laminate Their results indicated that the density and length of CNTs, as well as interfacial frictional shear stress, were important parameters affecting delamination toughness. Yang et al [20] developed a modified model based on the toughness model of Blanco et al using established quadruple bridging laws of CNT pullout by the molecular dynamic (MD) simulation method Their numerical results revealed that the CNT diameter and length and the loading conditions greatly affected CNT pullout behaviour from the polymer matrix, leading to different toughness values.
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