The impact of a mismatch on the interfacial stresses in NanoComposite

Abstract

The study investigates the influence of the mismatch on the interfacial stresses in a nanofiber reinforced composite using finite element analysis (FEA). It is assumed that the mismatch exists between the nanofiber and the matrix of the nanocomposite as a defected spot. A representative volume element (RVE) is chosen to model the nanoreinforced composite. The reinforcement properties of the nanofiber are considered as an isotropic for simplifications, since the location and the anticipated failure due to mismatch effect is assumed to be along the nanofiber/matrix interface. Therefore, the impact of the transverse properties of the nanofiber is considered as insignificant. Because of complexity of the problem, 2D finite element analysis is carried out to model the nanofiber composite. ANSYS/Mechanical is used to estimate the stresses of the matrix/nanofiber interface. Even though the expected distances between mismatches in the physical phenomenon is random, the investigation proposes to be systematic mismatch. As a consequence, mainly two cases are investigated regarding the mismatch the mismatch's location. In case one, the mismatch is located along the transverse side of the nanofiber, whereas is positioned in the longitudinal side in the second case. The level of the local interfacial normal and shear stresses arise at the mismatched spot are analyzed using FEA under axial tension. As a result, it is observed that the interfacial stresses increases as the defected area approaches the nanofiber end.