Transfer Characteristics of Interfacial Stresses Between Carbon Nanotubes and Matrix

Abstract

This study reports the result of an investigation into the effects of chiral vector of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and modulus of matrix on the interfacial stresses of CNT-reinforced composites. Based on the molecular structural mechanics approach, the assumption that CNTs and matrix are perfectly bonded to each other, and the equation of multi-node constraints, the molecular structural mechanics model of single/multi-walled CNT-reinforced composites is established. Results show that the use of Armchair CNTs may be more beneficial than the use of Zigzag CNTs in CNT-reinforced composites when the radius of Armchair CNT is equal to that of the Zigzag CNT, and the matrix with higher elastic modulus may be more beneficial in CNT-reinforced composite structures. Besides, it is found that the load transfer efficiency from van der Waals force is only about 30%, so that the use of single-walled CNTs may be more beneficial than the use of multi-walled structures in CNT-reinforced composite structures.