Effect of Temperature Change on the Elastic Properties of Al Matrix Reinforced by Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

In this paper, finite element modeling is used to compute the elastic properties of aluminum matrix reinforced by carbon nanotubes at different temperatures. Different patterns, including longitudinal dispersion along the loading, longitudinal dispersion perpendicular to the loading and random dispersion, are employed to disperse the nanotubes in Al matrix. Besides, the dependence of the mechanical properties of nanotube/Al nanocomposites on the nanotube aspect ratio (the ratio of nanotube length to its diameter) and volume percentage is studied. It is shown that the effect of temperature variation on the elastic properties of nanotube/Al nanocomposites is the same as the pure Al matrix. Investigating the influence of nanotube volume percentage, it is seen that nanocomposites with larger nanotube volume percentages possess higher elastic modulus. © 2020, Sociedade Brasileira de Física.