A novel method to decrease macro-residual stresses of laminated composites by adding carbon nano-fibers

In this research, a novel method to decrease macro-residual stresses of laminated composites by adding carbon nano-fiber (CNF) is proposed. To this end, using micromechanical and modified micromechanical approaches, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and Young’s modulus of carbon nano-fiber reinforced polymer are calculated. Then using this enhanced matrix, longitudinal and transverse of thermal expansion and Young’s modulus of a CNF/glass/epoxy unidirectional lamina in presence of CNF are obtained. Finally, using the classical lamination theory (CLT), macro-residual stresses for CNF/glass/epoxy laminated composites are obtained. The results explain how CNF can result in reducing macro-residual stresses in nano particle filled laminated composites. The results for both cross ply and angle ply glass/epoxy laminated composites are presented and show that adding CNF through the matrix can decrease macro-residual stresses in each plies up to about 30%. The main reason for the decrease in residual stresses are due to the sever decrease of coefficient of thermal expansion of the unidirectional ply.