Title: A methodology for strength and reliability analysis of carbon nanotube/nanofibre and conventional composite plates

Authors: Srikanth Pilla, Aaron Hammitt

Addresses: Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA. ' Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA

Abstract: A methodology for predicting the non-linear static response and reliability of plates made of conventional composite and nanocomposite materials is presented. The methodology was developed by integrating micromechanics models for both conventional composites and nanocomposites with tools for strength and reliability analysis of plates. Inputs to the model for strength analysis are the material properties of the composite obtained from the micromechanics model and the plate geometry and boundary conditions. Output of the model for strength analysis includes the load-deflection data for a plate under axial or transverse loading. The reliability analysis approach yields the probabilities of the failure modes and the sensitivities of these probabilities to the random variables. The methodology is demonstrated on a rectangular plate subjected to an in-plane compressive load with initial imperfections.

Keywords: strength analysis; reliability analysis; nanofibre-matrix interface; nanocomposites; nanofibres; nanomaterials; nanotechnology; composite plates; carbon nanotubes; composites; micromechanics modelling; load deflection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRS.2007.014966

International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 2007 Vol.1 No.3, pp.290 - 312

Published online: 28 Aug 2007 *

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