Modeling of Cement-CNT Nanocomposites Mechanical Properties by Micromechanical Method

In this paper cement/carbon nanotube mechanical properties were predicted by micromechanical model. The effects of CNT properties such as internal, external diameters and its length as well as its volume percent on Young's modulus were investigated by this model. In addition, the effect of representative volume element (RVE) element shape (cylindrical, cubic and hexagonal) on Young's Modulus (E) was studied systematically. Finally, the predicted results were compared with cement /CNT experimental results. The predicted results showed that by increasing external CNT diameters, CNT Volume percent and its length, Young's Modulus (E) was increased. However, the internal diameter of CNT didnt have significant effect on E. These data indicated that hexagonal element shape resulted higher E rather than square and cylindrical RVE shape. Comparison of predicated E and experimental E showed that the proposed model could predict young modules with high accuracy. These results showed that micro mechanical modeling is a valuable method for predication of cement/CNT mechanical properties in nanoscale.