Mechanical models of carbon nanotubes based composites
Aleksander Muc, Małgorzata Chwał Politechnika Krakowska, Wydział Mechaniczny, Instytut Konstrukcji Maszyn, al. Jana Pawła II 37, 31-864 Kraków
Annals 4 No. 12, 2004 pages 432-438
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abstract The discovery of carbon nanotubes by Iijima in 1991 has started experimental and theoretical studies in this area. Many researches have reported excellent mechanical properties of the nanotubes, i.e. high stiffness, high strength, low density and structural perfection. These exceptional properties of carbon nanotubes have opened wide field for using them in technological applications, e.g. as composites reinforcement. Usually the classical mechanical and micromechanical theories are not sufficient to describe nanostructures with the required accuracy so that it is necessary to use either the classical molecular dynamics relations or the quantum mechanics approach. The aim of the present paper is to review the mechanical models of carbon nanotubes (Tab. 3) and carbon nanotubes based composites (Tab. 4). Finally we compare these models by calculation the value of Young modulus for two different volume fraction of nanostructures: 10 and 20% (Fig. 3). Key words: carbon nanotubes, carbon nanotubes based composites, mechanical models