Mechanical property modeling of aluminium nanocomposite reinforced with carbon nanotubes

Abstract

In this study, the mechanical properties of an aluminium matrix nanocomposite reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are modeled by using the finite-element method (FEM). The mechanical properties include the Young’s modulus, yield strength and rupture strength of the nanocomposites. The effects of the volume fraction of the CNTs, interfacial type and loading direction on the mechanical properties are studied. The FEM results for the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite are compared with the results of experimental data and the micromechanical models. The FEM predictions for the mechanical properties for different volume fractions of the CNTs provide better results than the micromechanical models. When the volume fraction of the CNTs increases from 0 to 2 vol%, the Young’s modulus, the yield strength and the rupture strength of the nanocomposite increase by 18, 18 and 29%, respectively. Due to random dispersion of the CNTs in the aluminium matrix, the mechanical properties are approximately the same in different directions. The results show that the friction interface is weaker than the adhesion interface and then the friction interface causes the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite to weaken.