Methodology for Evaluating The Properties of Carbon Nano Tubes for Engineering Applications

Abstract

Owing to the superior mechanical properties of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), research has been initiated to use this nanomaterial in construction industry. The elastic modulus of CNT is of great importance in order to use CNTs in construction industry.for judicious and effective application of CNT in construction industry where mass scale utilization is inhabitable,it is important to accurately assess the properties of CNTs since these nano fiber materials are extremely cost sensitive. There is no well established tool or method available for the engineers to determine the properties of CNT, other than to accept the manufactures data. Nanoscale continuum theory uses a representative volume to determine the elastic modulus which not include the effect of radius and aspect ratio. In the present study, numerical model is developed and the validated one is used to study the effects of geometrical variabilities on the properties of CNT. Further, a unified approach is proposed to determine the mechanical properties, such as tensile stiffness, of the Carbon nanotube with a given structural arrangement (chirality and radius)if the same for the basic configuration, graphene, is known. The procedure discussed and the unified approach proposed in the present study will be helpful to the engineers to easily estimate the properties such as elastic modulus or tensile stiffness of CNTs before application with conventional materials for developing new materials with enhanced properties.