Nonlinear Low-Velocity Impact Response of Multi Scale Carbon Fiber-Epoxy Reinforced Nanocomposite Plates Using Finite Element Method

Abstract

In this study, the effect of addition of carbon nanotube on the nonlinear low-velocity impact response thermo elastic of
carbon fiber/epoxy composites is performed using the finite element method. The effective material properties of the multiscale composite are calculated using Halpin-Tsai equations and fiber micromechanics in hierarchy. The governing equations are derived based on higher-order shear deformation plate theory(HSDT) and von Kármán geometrical nonlinearity. The carbon nanotubes are assumed to be uniformly distributed and randomly oriented through the epoxy resin matrix. Contact force between the impactor and the plate is obtained with the aid of the modified nonlinear Hertzian contact law models. After examining the validity of the present work, the effects of the weight percentage of single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs), nanotube aspect ratio, volume fraction of fibers, plate aspect ratio and initial velocity of the impactor on the contact force, indentation, and central deflection of CNT reinforced multi-phase laminated composite plate are studied in details