Mechanical properties of continuously reinforced MWCNT polymer composites in compression

Recent studies show that continuously reinforced multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) composite can have extraordinary mechanical properties. It was observed that the continuous MWCNT polymer composites exhibit both significant reinforcement and large damping capability in compressive loadings, which typically remain compromised. The damping property might result from buckling behavior of the MWCNT in composites. Here, this paper is to study the buckling response of carbon nanotubes (CNT) within a polymer matrix by using analytical models including Euler, Timoshenko and shell buckling models. Also, the modeling results are analyzed and compared to better understand the bucking behavior of the CNT in the composite and also investigate the effect of their aspect ratio (L/D) on buckling behavior. This study provides us with insight to better understand the structure-property relation for such continuous CNT polymer composites.

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