• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2024

Graphene oxide (GO), known for its high stiffness, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity, is being utilized as a reinforcement in nanocomposite materials. This study evaluates the mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites incorporating GO and edge modified GO (E-GO), which has hydroxyl groups substituted only on its edges. GO/E-GO was uniformly dispersed in epoxy resin using ultrasonic dispersion, and mechanical properties were assessed through tensile testing. The results showed that the addition of nanoparticles increased both tensile strength and toughness. The tensile strength of the epoxy without nanoparticles was 74.4 MPa, while the highest tensile strength of 90.7 MPa was observed with 0.3 wt% E-GO. Additionally, the modulus increased from 2.55 GPa to 3.53 GPa with the addition of nanoparticles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surface revealed that the growth of cracks was impeded by the nanoparticles, preventing complete fracture and causing the cracks to split in multiple directions. E-GO, with surface treatment only on the edges, exhibited higher mechanical properties than GO due to its superior dispersion and surface treatment effects. These results highlight the importance of nanoparticle surface treatment in developing high-performance nanocomposite materials.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.213-226
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• 2020

The present study covenants with the static and free vibration behavior of nanocomposite sandwich plates reinforced by carbon nanotubes resting on Pasternak elastic foundation. Uniformly distributed (UD-CNT) and functionally graded (FG-CNT) distributions of aligned carbon nanotube are considered for two types of sandwich plates such as, the face sheet reinforced and homogeneous core and the homogeneous face sheet and reinforced core. Based on the first shear deformation theory (FSDT), the Hamilton's principle is employed to derive the mathematical models. The obtained solutions are numerically validated by comparison with some available cases in the literature. The elastic foundation model is assumed as one parameter Winkler - Pasternak foundation. A parametric study is conducted to study the effects of aspect ratios, foundation parameters, carbon nanotube volume fraction, types of reinforcement, core-to-face sheet thickness ratio and types of loads acting on the bending and free vibration analyses. It is explicitly shown that the (FG-CNT) face sheet reinforced sandwich plate has a high resistance against deflections compared to other types of reinforcement. It is also revealed that the reduction in the dimensionless natural frequency is most pronounced in core reinforced sandwich plate.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.689-702
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• 2020

The current study deals with the size-dependent free vibration analysis of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced polymer nanocomposite plates resting on Pasternak elastic foundation containing different boundary conditions. Based on a four variable refined shear deformation plate theory, which considers shear deformation effect, in conjunction with the Eringen nonlocal elasticity theory, which contains size-dependency inside nanostructures, the equations of motion are established through Hamilton's principle. Moreover, the effective material properties are estimated via the Halpin-Tsai model as well as the rule of mixture. Galerkin's mathematical formulation is utilized to solve the equations of motion for the vibrational problem with different boundary conditions. Parametrical examples demonstrate the influences of nonlocal parameter, total number of layers, weight fraction and geometry of GNPs, elastic foundation parameter, and boundary conditions on the frequency characteristic of the GNPs reinforced nanoplates in detail.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.529-541
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• 2017

In the present study, vibration analysis of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite (FGCNTRC) plate moving in two directions is investigated. Various types of shear deformation theories are utilized to obtain more accurate and simplest theory. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are selected as a reinforcement of composite face sheets inside Poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) matrix. Moreover, different kinds of distributions of CNTs are considered. Based on extended rule of mixture, the structural properties of composite face sheets are considered. Motion equations are obtained by Hamilton's principle and solved analytically. Influences of various parameters such as moving speed in x and y directions, volume fraction and distribution of CNTs, orthotropic viscoelastic surrounding medium, thickness and aspect ratio of composite plate on the vibration characteristics of moving system are discussed in details. The results indicated that thenatural frequency or stability of FGCNTRC plate is strongly dependent on axially moving speed. Moreover, a better configuration of the nanotube embedded in plate can be used to increase the critical speed, as a result, the stability is improved. The results of this investigation can be used in design and manufacturing of marine vessels and aircrafts.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.665-670
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• 2005

Nanocomposites of polypropylene with organically modified clays were compounded on a twin-screw extruder by two-step melt compounding of three components, i.e., polypropylene, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA), and organically modified clay. The effect of PP-g-MA compatibilizers, including PH-200, Epolene-43, Polybond-3002, Polybond-3200, with a wide range of maleic anhydride (MA) content and molecular weight was examined. Morphologies of nanocomposites and their mechanical properties such as stiffness, strength, and impact resistance were investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the dispersion morphology of clay particles seemed to be determined in the first compounding step and the further dispersion of clays didn't occur in the second compounding step. As the ratio of PP-g-MA to clay increased, the clay particles were dispersed more uniformly in the matrix resin. As the dispersibility of clays was enhanced, the reinforcement effect of the clays increased, however impact resistance decreased.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.74 no.6
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• pp.809-819
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• 2020

For the first time, the influence of in-plane magnetic field on wave propagation of Graphene Nano-Platelets (GNPs) polymer composite nanoplates is investigated here. The impact of three- parameter Kerr foundation is also considered. There are two different reinforcement distribution patterns (i.e. uniformly and non-uniformly) while the material properties of the nanoplate are estimated through the Halpin-Tsai model and a rule of mixture. To consider the size-dependent behavior of the structure, Eringen Nonlocal Differential Model (ENDM) is utilized. The equations of wave motion derived based on a higher-order shear deformation refined theory through Hamilton's principle and an analytical technique depending on Taylor series utilized to find the wave frequency as well as phase velocity of the GNPs reinforced nanoplates. A parametric investigation is performed to determine the influence of essential phenomena, such as the nonlocality, GNPs conditions, Kerr foundation parameters, and wave number on the both longitudinal and flexural wave characteristics of GNPs reinforced nanoplates.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.375-381
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• 2019

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are covalently functionalized with isocyanates by directly reacting commercial hydroxyl functionalized MWCNTs with excess 4,4'-methylenebis (phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) and hexamethylene diiosocyanate (HDI). HDI-modified MWCNTs results in a higher surface isocyanate density than MDI-modified MWCNTs. Anionic ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactam is conducted using a sodium caprolactam initiator in combination with a di-functional hexamethylene-1,6-dicarbamoylcaprolactam activator in the presence of isocyanate functionalized MWCNTs. This polymerization proceeds in a highly efficient manner at relatively low reaction temperature (150℃) and short reaction times (10 min). During the polymerization, the isocyanate functionalized MWCNTs act not only as reinforcing fillers but also as second activators. Nanocomposites with HDI modified MWCNTs exhibit higher reinforcement and faster isothermal crystallization than MDI modified MWCNTs. The results show that PA6 chains grow more effectively from HDI modified MWCNT surface than from MDI modified MWCNT surface, resulting in stronger interaction between PA6 and MWCNTs.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.787-800
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• 2016

The aim of the paper is to analyze nonlinear transverse vibration of an embedded piezoelectric plate reinforced with single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The system in rested in a Pasternak foundation. The micro-electro-mechanical model is employed to calculate mechanical and electrical properties of nanocomposite. Using nonlinear strain-displacement relations and considering charge equation for coupling between electrical and mechanical fields, the motion equations are derived based on energy method and Hamilton's principle. These equations can't be solved analytically due to their nonlinear terms. Hence, differential quadrature method (DQM) is employed to solve the governing differential equations for the case when all four ends are clamped supported and free electrical boundary condition. The influences of the elastic medium, volume fraction and orientation angle of the SWCNTs reinforcement and aspect ratio are shown on frequency of structure. The results indicate that with increasing volume fraction of SWCNTs, the frequency increases. This study might be useful for the design and smart control of nano/micro devices such as MEMS and NEMS.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.255-271
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• 2018

This paper deals with the transient dynamic analysis and elastic wave propagation in a functionally graded graphene platelets (FGGPLs)-reinforced composite thick hollow cylinder, which is subjected to shock loading. A micromechanical model based on the Halpin-Tsai model and rule of mixture is modified for nonlinear functionally graded distributions of graphene platelets (GPLs) in polymer matrix of composites. The governing equations are derived for an axisymmetric FGGPLs-reinforced composite cylinder with a finite length and then solved using a hybrid meshless method based on the generalized finite difference (GFD) and Newmark finite difference methods. A numerical time discretization is performed for the dynamic problem using the Newmark method. The dynamic behaviors of the displacements and stresses are obtained and discussed in detail using the modified micromechanical model and meshless GFD method. The effects of the reinforcement of the composite cylinder by GPLs on the elastic wave propagations in both displacement and stress fields are obtained for various parameters. It is concluded that the proposed micromechanical model and also the meshless GFD method have a high capability to simulate the composite structures under shock loadings, which are reinforced by FGGPLs. It is shown that the modified micromechanical model and solution technique based on the meshless GFD method are accurate. Also, the time histories of the field variables are shown for various parameters.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.691-714
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• 2017

Rotating fluid induced vibration and instability of embedded piezoelectric nano-composite separators subjected to magnetic and electric fields is the main contribution of present work. The separator is modeled with cylindrical shell element and the structural damping effects are considered by Kelvin-Voigt model. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are used as reinforcement and effective material properties are obtained by mixture rule. The perturbation velocity potential in conjunction with the linearized Bernoulli formula is used for describing the rotating fluid motion. The orthotropic surrounding elastic medium is considered by spring, damper and shear constants. The governing equations are derived on the bases of classical shell theory (CST), first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and sinusoidal shear deformation theory (SSDT). The nonlinear frequency and critical angular fluid velocity are calculated by differential quadrature method (DQM). The detailed parametric study is conducted, focusing on the combined effects of the external voltage, magnetic field, visco-Pasternak foundation, structural damping and volume percent of SWCNTs on the stability of structure. The numerical results are validated with other published works as well as comparing results obtained by three theories. Numerical results indicate that with increasing volume fraction of SWCNTs, the frequency and critical angular fluid velocity are increased.