All issues

The article proposes a model for assessing the potential strength of a composite material based on modern fibers with brittle fracture.

Materials consisting of parallel cylindrical fibers that are quasi-statically stretched in one direction are simulated. It is assumed that the sample is not less than 100 pieces, which corresponds to almost significant cases. It is known that the fibers have a distribution of ultimate deformation in the sample and are not destroyed at the same moment. Usually the distribution of their properties is described by the Weibull–Gnedenko statistical distribution. To simulate the strength of the composite, a model of fiber breaks accumulation is used. It is assumed that the fibers united by the polymer matrix are crushed to twice the inefficient length — the distance at which the stresses increase from the end of the broken fiber to the middle one. However, this model greatly overestimates the strength of composites with brittle fibers. For example, carbon and glass fibers are destroyed in this way.

In some cases, earlier attempts were made to take into account the stress concentration near the broken fiber (Hedgepest model, Ermolenko model, shear analysis), but such models either required a lot of initial data or did not coincide with the experiment. In addition, such models idealize the packing of fibers in the composite to the regular hexagonal packing.

The model combines the shear analysis approach to stress distribution near the destroyed fiber and the statistical approach of fiber strength based on the Weibull–Gnedenko distribution, while introducing a number of assumptions that simplify the calculation without loss of accuracy.

It is assumed that the stress concentration on the adjacent fiber increases the probability of its destruction in accordance with the Weibull distribution, and the number of such fibers with an increased probability of destruction is directly related to the number already destroyed before. All initial data can be obtained from simple experiments. It is shown that accounting for redistribution only for the nearest fibers gives an accurate forecast.

This allowed a complete calculation of the strength of the composite. The experimental data obtained by us on carbon fibers, glass fibers and model composites based on them (CFRP, GFRP), confirm some of the conclusions of the model.

The study of the structural characteristics of composites and nanostructures is of fundamental importance in materials science. Theoretical and numerical modeling and simulation of the mechanical properties of nanostructures is the main tool that allows for complex studies that are difficult to conduct only experimentally. One example of nanostructures considered in this work are carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which have good thermal and electrical properties, as well as low density and high Young’s modulus, making them the most suitable reinforcement element for composites, for potential applications in aerospace, automotive, metallurgical and biomedical industries. In this review, we reviewed the modeling methods, mechanical properties, and applications of CNT-reinforced metal matrix composites. Some modeling methods applicable in the study of composites with polymer and metal matrices are also considered. Methods such as the gradient descent method, the Monte Carlo method, methods of molecular statics and molecular dynamics are considered. Molecular dynamics simulations have been shown to be excellent for creating various composite material systems and studying the properties of metal matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanomaterials under various conditions. This paper briefly presents the most commonly used potentials that describe the interactions of composite modeling systems. The correct choice of interaction potentials between parts of composites directly affects the description of the phenomenon being studied. The dependence of the mechanical properties of composites on the volume fraction of the diameter, orientation, and number of CNTs is detailed and discussed. It has been shown that the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes has a significant effect on the tensile strength and Young’s modulus. The CNT diameter has a greater impact on the tensile strength than on the elastic modulus. An example of works is also given in which the effect of CNT length on the mechanical properties of composites is studied. In conclusion, we offer perspectives on the direction of development of molecular dynamics modeling in relation to metal matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanomaterials.