Finite element modelling of carbon fiber - carbon nanostructure - polymer hybrid composite structures

Abstract

The present study deals with the numerical modelling of hybrid<br/>laminated composites, which can be proved especially useful in the<br/>engineering and maintenance of advanced aerospace primary structures. The<br/>lamina is comprised of continuous carbon fibers, thermosetting epoxy<br/>polymer matrix, as well as carbon nanostructures, such as graphene or<br/>carbon nanotubes, inclusions. Halpin-Tsai equations combined with results<br/>obtained from nanomechanical analysis are employed in order to evaluate<br/>the elastic properties of the carbon nanostructure/polymer matrix. Then, the<br/>obtained elastic properties of the hybrid matrix are used to calculate the<br/>orthotropic macro-mechanical properties of the unidirectional composite<br/>lamina. A hybrid composite plate is modelled as a 2D structure via the<br/>utilization of 4-node, quadrilateral, stress/displacement shell finite elements<br/>with reduced integration formulation. The convergence and analysis<br/>accuracy are tested. The mechanical performance of the hybrid composites<br/>is investigated by considering specific configurations and applying<br/>appropriate loading and boundary conditions. The results are compared with<br/>the corresponding ones found in the open literature, where it is possible.

Reference Georgantzinos, S. K., Markolefas, S. I., Mavrommatis, S. A., & Stamoulis, K. (2020). Finite element modelling of carbon fiber - carbon nanostructure - polymer hybrid composite structures. MATEC Web of Conferences, 314, Article 02004. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202031402004
29 May 2020

Publication date

May 2020

Author(s)

Stelios K. Georgantzinos
Stylianos I. Markolefas
Stamatis A. Mavrommatis

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