Abstract
The present study deals with the numerical modelling of hybrid laminated composites, which can be proved especially useful in the engineering and maintenance of advanced aerospace primary structures. The lamina is comprised of continuous carbon fibers, thermosetting epoxy polymer matrix, as well as carbon nanostructures, such as graphene or carbon nanotubes, inclusions. Halpin-Tsai equations combined with results obtained from nanomechanical analysis are employed in order to evaluate the elastic properties of the carbon nanostructure/polymer matrix. Then, the obtained elastic properties of the hybrid matrix are used to calculate the orthotropic macro-mechanical properties of the unidirectional composite lamina. A hybrid composite plate is modelled as a 2D structure via the utilization of 4-node, quadrilateral, stress/displacement shell finite elements with reduced integration formulation. The convergence and analysis accuracy are tested. The mechanical performance of the hybrid composites is investigated by considering specific configurations and applying appropriate loading and boundary conditions. The results are compared with the corresponding ones found in the open literature, where it is possible.
Highlights
The high strength and stiffness, as well as the light weight of the polymer matrix composites make them ideal candidates in numerous automotive, aerospace, medical and other applications
The results have showed that engineering constants increase as the added carbon nanotube fraction is increased
Halpin-Tsai model proposed for discontinuous fiber reinforced lamina is employed to calculate the Young's modulus of the carbon nanotube/polymer matrix system
Summary
The high strength and stiffness, as well as the light weight of the polymer matrix composites make them ideal candidates in numerous automotive, aerospace, medical and other applications Due to their excellent mechanical performance, carbon nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene, can be used to reinforce the polymer matrix of composites, for a further enhancement of their stiffness and strength. Graphene has a similar carbon atom arrangement as CNTs; it is a planar monolayer It is the thinnest structural material in the world and presents extraordinary mechanical [4,5], electrical [6], optical and chemical properties [7]. Mehar and Panda [18] examined the deformation of CNT reinforced composite plate, numerically, experimentally and theoretically investigating the role of numerous parameters They conclude that the bending rigidity increases by adding CNTs to the structure up to 0.2 weight fractions and decreases for higher ones. Assuming a specific plate configuration, the mechanical response of the composite is predicted under different loading conditions
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