Enhancement of elastic and fracture properties of carbon nanotube-reinforced aluminum laminated composites

Abstract

In the present study, elastic properties and mode I fracture energy (GI) of advanced carbon nanotube (CNT)/aluminum (Al) and traditional carbon fiber (CF)/Al laminated composites have been evaluated to predict the importance of CNT/Al composite over CF/Al composite. An analytical method has been used to evaluate the elastic properties of CNT/Al and CF/Al composites. Mode I fracture energy of laminated composite of double cantilever beam has been evaluated using the finite element (FE) method. Three different types of stacking sequences of composite laminates have been considered to observe the effect of those properties. The effect of fiber volume fraction on those properties has also been observed. Results revealed that the addition of 15% volume fraction of CNT in the Al matrix would give the higher values of longitudinal Young's modulus (Ex) compared to the addition of 60% CF in the Al matrix. The maximum increase of Ex has been found 278.14% for CNT/Al composite compared to CF/Al composite at a constant fiber volume fraction of 60% for [0/0/0/0] laminate configuration. It has been observed from FE analysis that the addition of 15% CNT in the Al matrix will also give a higher value of GI compared to the addition of 60% CF in the Al matrix. The value of GI of CNT/Al composite is increased by 180.37% compared to CF/Al composite for the same fiber volume fraction of 60% for [0/0/0/0] stacking sequence of laminate. The percentage increase of GI for [0/90/0/90] and [0/30/-30/90] laminated composites are almost the same and these values are almost half of the value of GI for [0/0/0/0] laminated composite.