Published Paper Details:

Nanocomposites are novel materials that are receiving great attention from the aerospace community because of the inherent high strength and stiffness of the nanotubes/nanofibres embedded in the Nanocomposite matrix. These features are particularly appealing to aircraft designers who strive to produce long lasting and safe components that can perform at the highest and extreme levels. However, the mechanical properties, damage initiation and propagation are yet to be fully comprehended. Consequently, in this work, the mechanical behavior of nanofibres is characterized by finite element analysis (FEA). In particular, the stiffness mismatch of the nano-fibres and the matrix are studied under simulated static loading conditions. A comparison of the formation of singular interfacial stress zones (stress concentrations) in various forms of nanofibre is then presented. It is shown that an optimized nanofibre composite design is not only influenced by the nanofibre stiffness but also by the nanofibre length and nanofibre shape. Finally, recommendations are made on producing Nanocomposites with high failure strength.