Parametric Study of Strain Rate Effects on Nanoparticle-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Abstract

Crashworthiness, energy absorption capacity, and safety are important factors in the design of lightweight vehicles made of fiber-reinforced polymer composite (FRP) components. The relatively recent emergence of the nanotechnology industry has presented a novel means to augment the mechanical properties of various materials. As a result, recent attempts have contemplated the use of nanoparticles to further improve the resiliency of resins, especially when resins are used for mating FRP components. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the response of nanoreinforced polymer composites, subjected to various rates of loading, is of paramount importance for developing reliable structures. In this paper, the effects of nanoreinforcement on the mechanical response of a commonly used epoxy resin subjected to four different strain rates, are systematically investigated. The results are then compared to those of the neat resin. To characterize the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite, a combination of the strain rate-dependent mechanical (SRDM) model of Goldberg and his coworkers and Halpin-Tsai’s micromechanical approach is employed. Subsequently, a parametric study is conducted to ascertain the influences of particle type and their weight percentage. Finally, the numerical results are compared to the experimental data obtained from testing of the neat and the nanoreinforced epoxy resin.

Durability Issues and Challenges for Material Advancements in FRP Employed in the Construction Industry

“…Another widely practiced way, especially to improve impact properties of the composite and reduce the crack propagation [ 69 ], is the production of composites where nanofillers are grafted onto the traditional fibers [ 75 , 76 , 77 ]. Coating (dipping or spraying), chemical vapor or electrophoretic deposition, and addition of chemical binding agents are the most used methods to modify the fibers [ 62 , 78 ].…”

A 3D viscoelastic–viscoplastic behavior of carbon nanotube‐reinforced polymers: Constitutive model and experimental characterization

“…By combining the micromechanical model with previously developed material models for metals, further efforts have been made to investigate the VP response of CNT‐based polymer nanocomposites 40,41 . In this regard, together with the Halpin‐Tsai micromechanical model, Shokrieh et al 40 and Soltannia et al, 41 respectively, used Johnson‐Cook 42 and Bodner‐Partom 43 models to describe the rate‐dependent behavior of these materials.…”

Static and dynamic characteristics of nano-reinforced 3D-fiber metal laminates using non-destructive techniques

“…As for other approaches in the quest for developing resilient and lightweight materials, one should also mention the other techniques that have been contemplated in order to enhance the stiffness-to-weight ratio of FMLs as well as enhancing the Achilles heel of FRPs and FMLs, that is, their interlaminar strength. As briefly mentioned earlier, the advantages of incorporating small amounts of NPs to improve the mechanical and electrical properties of the matrix of laminated polymer composite structures and adhesives have been actively investigated by several researchers in recent years [55–61]. For instance, Ahmadi-Moghadam et al.…”