A 2d Cellular Automata Model for Tree Propagation in Nanocomposites: Influence of the Nanoparticles Size, Loading and the Presence of Microvoids

Abstract

Electrical tree propagation in a polymer nanocomposite is affected by the presence of nanoparticles. A 2D cellular automata (CA) model is presented for the simulation of electrical tree propagation in polymer nanocomposites. The effect of the nanoparticles size, the nanoparticles loading and the appearance of microvoids on electrical tree propagation in titania ( TiO2 )/epoxy nanocomposites under the application of DC voltage is examined with the aid of the CA model. It has been observed that the tree length is affected by nanoparticles size and nanoparticles loading. A resistance in electrical tree propagation has been noticed, as nanoparticles size decreases or as nanoparticles loading increases. The presence of microvoids in the polymer nanocomposite is another factor that has been examined. The propagation of electrical trees that initiate from microvoids in the polymer nanocomposite has also been simulated by the use of the CA model.

Simulation of root forms using cellular automata model

“…Therefore, this effect is also predicted in this simulation by adding the stone in the soil. The addition of red cell as the disturbance has been applied firstly to the previous research investigating cellular automata model for tree propagation [8].The previous research conducted by Pitsa investigated a simulated root without a compared root in nature. This research has developed the random disturbance for 120 cells with 3 roots compared to the natural root.…”

“…Cellular automata models have significantly contributed to urban growth modeling [2][3][4][5]. The model can also be applied for simulating frozen soil processes, traffic car accidents in the on-ramp system, abrasive water jet cutting, cancer tumors, electrical tree propagation, groundwater, surface flows in large plains, anisotropic etching of complex micro electro mechanical systems [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. In accordance with the educational purposes, a root form simulation can be applied in a science instruction at an elementary school.…”