The Effect of Chirality and Strain Rate on Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube (CNT) and CNT/Epoxy Composites

Abstract

The effect of strain rate and chirality on mechanical behavior of single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and SWCNT/epoxy composite under tensile loadings was investigated using a computational molecular dynamics simulation and the Reactive Force Field. The analysis comprises the methodology employed to develop the molecular structures of SWCNTs and SWCNT/epoxy composites, the techniques for relaxing the materials systems, and the method utilized to characterize tensile parameters of the structures. The simulated results showed that the chirality of the SWCNTs as well as rate of deformation affect the Young’s modulus of both the SWCNTs and the SWCNT/epoxy composite.