Abstract
A numerical model has been developed using the explicit FE code LS-DYNA in order to study the effect of geometrical and material parameters on the low-velocity impact response of carbon nanotube (CNT)/polymer nanocomposites. The model is based on a Representative Volume Element (RVE). The RVE is prismatic with a rectangular cross-section while the impactor is spherical. The simulations show that the presence of CNT significantly enhances the impact stiffness and the energy absorption capacity of the material. The enhancement increases with the CNT's volume fraction and it is larger at larger impact velocities. The effect of CNT's aspect ratio is found to be minor. The orthotropic behaviour of CNT assigns the RVE a higher energy absorption capacity than the isotropic behaviour at small impact velocities. The prediction of impact damage at large impact velocities indicates that the CNT makes the polymer more susceptible to fracture.
Published Version
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