Papers by Author: Martin Buggy

Abstract: A concept for improving the impact resistance of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates by using a carbon nanotube (CNT)/epoxy surface coating is presented. An initial parametric numerical study shows the effects of interphase properties on the macroscopic stress-strain behaviour of carbon nanotube/epoxy nanocomposites. Finite element (FE) simulations carried out for fully aligned single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) and double-walled CNTs (DWCNTs) investigated the influence of properties of the polymer/CNT interphase and the interwall phase of DWCNTs. They reveal that a high shear stiffness of the CNT/polymer interphase is essential to take the full advantage of the load-bearing ability of the inner wall of the DWCNT, and thus enhance the mechanical performance of the nanocomposite. Furthermore the interphase shear stress distributions in interwall and CNT/polymer interphase of a DWCNT point out the relationship between CNT/epoxy interphase damage propagation and shear stress in the interwall phase.