Abstract In the present study, a novel modelling approach based on electrical properties was proposed to replicate the mechanical behaviour of aligned carbon nanotube/polymer nanocomposites. Firstly, an electrical analytical model with Monte-Carlo method involved was established and validated by accurately predicted electric conductivity. The microstructure of the nanocomposite was then determined according to the electric property. Subsequently, a large-scale representative volume element model based on the predicted distribution of the carbon nanotubes was built to replicate the mechanical response of the nanocomposite under tension, which can be validated by existing experiments. To consider the crystalline structure of the matrix, two cases on the nanocomposites with crystalline and amorphous polymer were investigated, locating their difference on the bonding condition of the interface between CNT and matrix. Results evidenced that the electrical properties of nanocomposites can be used to identify the internal microstructure of nanocomposite. Moreover, the effects of the loading direction, the interfacial strength and the weight fraction were studied by numerical models. The reinforcement effect of the carbon nanotubes was significant when loaded along the aligned direction, but the effect was limited in the other directions. The modulus and the strength of nanocomposite were improved by the increase of the weight fraction of CNTs, while the increase of interfacial strength improves the strength of nanocomposite along CNT-aligned direction significantly, but had negligible effect on its modulus.

中文翻译：

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通过电导率研究具有定向碳纳米管的纳米复合材料的机械性能

摘要 在本研究中，提出了一种基于电性能的新型建模方法来复制定向碳纳米管/聚合物纳米复合材料的机械行为。首先，通过准确预测的电导率建立并验证了涉及蒙特卡罗方法的电学分析模型。然后根据电性能确定纳米复合材料的微观结构。随后，建立了基于碳纳米管预测分布的大规模代表性体积元模型，以复制纳米复合材料在张力下的机械响应，这可以通过现有实验进行验证。为了考虑基体的晶体结构，研究了具有结晶和无定形聚合物的纳米复合材料的两种情况，将它们的差异定位在 CNT 和基体之间界面的键合条件上。结果表明，纳米复合材料的电学特性可用于识别纳米复合材料的内部微观结构。此外，通过数值模型研究了加载方向、界面强度和重量分数的影响。沿排列方向加载时，碳纳米管的增强效果显着，但在其他方向上效果有限。纳米复合材料的模量和强度随着碳纳米管重量分数的增加而提高，而界面强度的增加显着提高了纳米复合材料沿碳纳米管排列方向的强度，但对其模量的影响可以忽略不计。结果表明，纳米复合材料的电学特性可用于识别纳米复合材料的内部微观结构。此外，通过数值模型研究了加载方向、界面强度和重量分数的影响。沿排列方向加载时，碳纳米管的增强效果显着，但在其他方向上效果有限。纳米复合材料的模量和强度随着碳纳米管重量分数的增加而提高，而界面强度的增加显着提高了纳米复合材料沿碳纳米管排列方向的强度，但对其模量的影响可以忽略不计。结果表明，纳米复合材料的电学特性可用于识别纳米复合材料的内部微观结构。此外，通过数值模型研究了加载方向、界面强度和重量分数的影响。沿排列方向加载时，碳纳米管的增强效果显着，但在其他方向上效果有限。纳米复合材料的模量和强度随着碳纳米管重量分数的增加而提高，而界面强度的增加显着提高了纳米复合材料沿碳纳米管排列方向的强度，但对其模量的影响可以忽略不计。通过数值模型研究了加载方向、界面强度和重量分数的影响。沿排列方向加载时，碳纳米管的增强效果显着，但在其他方向上效果有限。纳米复合材料的模量和强度随着碳纳米管重量分数的增加而提高，而界面强度的增加显着提高了纳米复合材料沿碳纳米管排列方向的强度，但对其模量的影响可以忽略不计。通过数值模型研究了加载方向、界面强度和重量分数的影响。沿排列方向加载时，碳纳米管的增强效果显着，但在其他方向上效果有限。纳米复合材料的模量和强度随着碳纳米管重量分数的增加而提高，而界面强度的增加显着提高了纳米复合材料沿碳纳米管排列方向的强度，但对其模量的影响可以忽略不计。