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Mechanical and Electrical Response Models of Carbon Nanotubes

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Carbon Nanotube Enhanced Aerospace Composite Materials

Part of the book series: Solid Mechanics and Its Applications ((SMIA,volume 188))

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Abstract

Carbon nanotubes have remarkable mechanical and electrical properties. One promising feature is their electrical resistance that strongly depends on mechanical deformation. This, in combination with the fact that nanotubes can be dispersed into polymeric matrices, makes them ideal constituents for the development of novel multifunctional materials and devices. When dispersed into an insulating polymer, nanotubes are known to induce conductive behavior to the composite. This is attributed to the formation of conductive nanotube networks due to percolation. When a nanocomposite is mechanically deformed, load is transferred to the nanotubes, as well. As they deform and rearrange, their electrical properties change and the percolation networks are distorted. This effect is studied in this chapter using three models: (i) an atomistic molecular mechanics approach for prediction of the mechanical response of carbon nanotubes, (ii) a subatomic tight-binding approach for prediction of the piezeoresistive response of individual carbon nanotubes, and (iii) a homogenized microscale model for prediction of the piezoresistive response of carbon nanotube doped insulating polymers. Results seem to be in agreement with experimental results for small deformations.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been supported by the K. Karatheodori program (University of Patras) and the NOESIS project (EU FP6-Aerospace). The authors gratefully acknowledge this support.

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  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

    T. C. Theodosiou & D. A. Saravanos

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  1. T. C. Theodosiou
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  2. D. A. Saravanos
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Correspondence to D. A. Saravanos .

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  1. , Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45100, Greece

    A. Paipetis

  2. , Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, Patras, 26500, Greece

    V. Kostopoulos

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Theodosiou, T.C., Saravanos, D.A. (2013). Mechanical and Electrical Response Models of Carbon Nanotubes. In: Paipetis, A., Kostopoulos, V. (eds) Carbon Nanotube Enhanced Aerospace Composite Materials. Solid Mechanics and Its Applications, vol 188. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4246-8_7

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