Multiscale modeling of graphene- and nanotube-based reinforced polymer nanocomposites

A combination of molecular dynamics, molecular structural mechanics, and finite element method is employed to compute the elastic constants of a polymeric nanocomposite embedded with graphene sheets, and carbon nanotubes. The model is first applied to study the effect of inclusion of graphene sheets on the Young modulus of the composite. To explore the significance of the nanofiller geometry, the elastic constants of nanotube-based and graphene-based polymer composites are computed under identical conditions. The reinforcement role of these nanofillers is also investigated in transverse directions. Moreover, the dependence of the nanocomposite?s axial Young modulus on the presence of ripples on the surface of the embedded graphene sheets, due to thermal fluctuations, is examined via MD simulations. Finally, we have also studied the effect of sliding motion of graphene layers on the elastic constants of the nanocomposite.     

Multiscale modeling of nanoindentation in copper thin films via the concurrent coupling of the meshless Hermite-Cloud method with molecular dynamics

This paper investigates the 2D nanoindentation of a copper thin film using a concurrent multiscale method. The method uses molecular dynamics (MD) simulation in the atomistic region, the strong-form meshless Hermite-Cloud method in the continuum region and a handshaking algorithm to concurrently couple them. A fully atomistic simulation is also carried out to validate the multiscale method. The results, namely the load versus indentation depth graph obtained from the multiscale method shows only slight quantitative variation from that of the full atomistic model. More importantly, the graphs from both simulations show a similar trend thus validating the 2D multiscale method. The displacement profile without discontinuities further supports the efficiency of the multiscale method in ensuring smooth exchange of information between the atomistic and continuum domains. The material properties extracted from the simulation include the force/unit length values obtained by dividing the maximum load on the indenter by its contact perimeter, instead of the hardness value obtained in 3D simulations. By restricting the atomic scale detail to the critical regions beneath the indenter, the multiscale method effectively saves computational resources to more than one order (close to 13 times less for this problem), thus making it feasible to simulate problems of larger dimensions that are not amenable to complete atomistic simulations.     

Effect of sp-hybridized defects on the oscillatory behavior of carbon nanotube oscillators

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the oscillatory behaviors of carbon nanotube oscillators containing sp³-hybridized defects formed by hydrogen chemisorption. It is found that the presence of these defects significantly affects the kinetic and potential energies of the nanotube systems, which in turn affects their oscillation periods and frequencies. We have also studied the oscillatory characteristics of the oscillators containing sp³-hybridized Stone-Wales defects. Our results show that it is possible to control the motion of the inner nanotube by introducing sp³-hybridized defects on the outer nanotube, which provides a potential way to tune the oscillatory behavior of nanotube oscillators.     

Mechanical properties of nickel-coated single-walled carbon nanotubes and their embedded gold matrix composites

The effects of nickel coating on the mechanical behaviors of armchair single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and their embedded gold matrix composites under axial tension are investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method. The results show that the Young's moduli and tensile strength of SWCNTs obviously decrease after nickel coating. For armchair SWCNTs, the decreased ratio of the Young's moduli of SWCNTs with smaller radius is larger than that of SWCNTs with larger radius. A comparison is made between the response to Young's modulus of a composite with parallel embedded nanotube and the response of a composite with vertically embedded nanotube. The results show that the uncoated SWCNT can enhance the Young's modulus of composite under the condition of parallel embedment, but such improvement disappears under the condition of vertical embedment because the interaction between SWCNT and gold matrix is too weak for effective load transfer. However, the nickel-coated SWCNT can indeed significantly improve the composite behavior.     

Molecular dynamics study of the torsional vibration characteristics of boron-nitride nanotubes

In recent years, synthesizing inorganic nanostructures such as boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) has led to extensive studies on their exceptional properties. In this study, the torsional vibration behavior of boron-nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) is explored on the basis of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The results show that the torsional frequency is sensitive to geometrical parameters such as length and boundary conditions. The axial vibration is found to be induced by torsional vibration of nanotubes which can cause instability in the nanostructure. It is also observed that the torsional frequency of BNNTs is higher than that of their carbon counterpart. Moreover, the shear modulus is predicted by incorporating MD simulation numerical results into torsional vibration frequency obtained through continuum-based model of tubes. Finally, it is seen that the torsional frequency of double-walled boron-nitride nanotubes (DWBNNTs) is between the frequencies of their constituent inner and outer tubes.     

A multiscale coupling method for the modeling of dynamics of solids with application to brittle cracks

We present a multiscale model for numerical simulations of dynamics of crystalline solids. The method combines the continuum nonlinear elasto-dynamics model, which models the stress waves and physical loading conditions, and molecular dynamics model, which provides the nonlinear constitutive relation and resolves the atomic structures near local defects. The coupling of the two models is achieved based on a general framework for multiscale modeling – the heterogeneous multiscale method (HMM). We derive an explicit coupling condition at the atomistic/continuum interface. Application to the dynamics of brittle cracks under various loading conditions is presented as test examples.     

Effect of temperature on deformation of carbon nanotube under compression

The mechanical behaviour of carbon nanotubes is one of the basic research fields on the nanotube composites and nano machinery. Molecular dynamics is an effective way for investigating the behaviour of nano structure. The compression deformation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under different temperature is simulated, by using the Tersoff－Brenner potential to describe the interactions in CNTs. The results show that thermal fluctuations may induce the strained CNT to overcome the local energy barrier and develop the plastic deformation.     

Molecular dynamics study of effects of nickel coating on torsional behavior of single-walled carbon nanotube

The effects of nickel coating on the torsional behaviors of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) subject to torsion motion are investigated using the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method. The simulation results show that regardless of chirality, defect or radius, nickel coating can considerably enhance the critical torque of SWCNTs. However, by comparing the critical torsion angle between nickel-coated SWCNTs and corresponding pristine SWCNTs, it is found that nickel coating in small-radius nanotubes does induce a reduction in the critical torsion angle. The results also show that the structural failure of nickel coated imperfect (9,0) SWCNT occurs at an obviously higher critical torque in comparison with uncoated (9,0) SWCNT with a vacancy defect. Furthermore, we also find that the critical torque of a short nickel coated SWCNT is bigger than that of a long one, while the critical torsion angle for a short tube is smaller than that for a long one.     

Molecular dynamics simulation on mechanicalproperty of carbon nanotube torsional deformation

In this paper torsional deformation of the carbon nanotubes is simulated by molecular dynamics method. The Brenner potential is used to set up thesimulation system. Simulation results show that the carbon nanotubes can bear larger torsional deformation, for the armchair type (10,10) single wall carbon nanotubes, with a yielding phenomenon taking place when the torsional angle is up to 63$^{\circ}$(1.1rad). The influence of carbon nanotube helicity in torsional deformation is very small. The shear modulus of single wall carbon nanotubes should be several hundred GPa, not 1\,GPa as others reports.     

Simulation of mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes with superlattice structure

The effect of radius and layer thickness on the mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes with ‘zigzag-armchair-zigzag’ superlattice structure (CNTSS) is investigated using molecular dynamics simulation method. The interactions between carbon atoms are modeled using the second-generation reactive empirical bond-order Brenner potential coupled with the Lennard-Jones potential. The results indicate that the Young's modulus of CNTSS shows a significant dependence on its radius and layer thickness. In contrast, the critical stress is insensitive to the layer thickness and radius of CNTSS. And the critical stress of CNTSS is close to that of its thicker carbon nanotubes segment. In addition, the damage modes of CNTSS depend on the connecting region due to the presence of 5–7 defects and the energy early concentrating in the junctions. The effects of the number of junctions on the mechanical properties of CNTSS are also discussed. The results indicate that the joints made in this way still have relatively high mechanical properties corresponding to that of the ideal single-walled carbon nanotube.     

Effects of pressure and temperature on the isothermal bulk modulus of CaO

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed to investigate the effects of pressure and temperature on the isothermal bulk modulus of CaO using pair-wise interactions that include polarization effects through the shell model (SM). The dependence of isothermal bulk modulus B_T of CaO on the compression ratio V/V₀ and pressure P have been obtained from MD runs at T=300 K, and compared with the available experimental data and other theoretical results. A good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained. Meanwhile, B_T dependence on temperature T at zero pressure is investigated. At extended pressure and temperature ranges, SM-MD method has also been carried out for predicting the P-V-T equation of state and isothermal bulk modulus at different temperatures along the isotherms 0, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 K, and at different pressures along the isobars 5, 15, 30, 40, and 50 GPa for CaO, respectively.     

Effects of electromigration on copper atoms in carbon nanotube channels

The effects of electromigration on copper in carbon nanotube (CNT) channels are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The study shows that the potential energy of copper and the resistive forces on copper are dependent on the shape of the CNT junction, and the increase in bias voltages magnifies these effects. Bias voltages affect the density of copper in the downstream CNT. The velocity of copper in the downstream CNT is relatively lower than that in the upstream CNT when the biased voltage is high.     

Frequency change by inter-walled length difference of double-wall carbon nanotube resonator

Ultrahigh frequency nanomechanical resonators based on double-walled carbon nanotubes with different wall lengths were investigated via classical molecular dynamics simulations. For a double-walled carbon nanotube resonator with a short outer wall, the free edge of the short outer wall plays an important role in the vibration of the long inner wall. For a double-walled carbon nanotube resonator with a short inner wall, the short inner wall can be considered as a flexible core, thus, the fundamental frequency is influenced by its length. By controlling the length of the inner or outer wall, various frequency devices can be realized by a single type of double-walled carbon nanotube with walls of equal length.     

Effect of twin boundary spacing on deformation behavior of nanotwinned magnesium

The effect of twin spacing and temperature on the deformation behavior of nanotwinned magnesium is investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. The results indicate that there is a pronounced shift in the mechanical behavior of nanotwinned magnesium when twin spacing is smaller than 2.9 nm, and that the yield strength decreases with increasing temperature. The results show that at relatively high temperatures, a strength softening can be observed when twin spacing is larger than 7.8 nm. This study demonstrates that the yield strength is associated with the dislocation storage ability of nanotwinned magnesium and the repulsive force between twin boundaries and dislocations.     

Asymmetry of the water flux induced by the deformation of a nanotube

The behavior of nano-confined water is expected to be fundamentally different from the behavior of bulk water.At the nanoscale,it is still unclear whether water flows more easily along the convergent direction or the divergent one,and whether a hourglass shape is more convenient than a funnel shape for water molecules to pass through a nanotube.Here,we present an approach to explore these questions by changing the deformation position of a carbon nanotube.The results of our molecular dynamics simulation indicate that the water flux through the nanotube changes significantly when the deformation position moves away from the middle region of the tube.Different from the macroscopic level,we find water flux asymmetry(water flows more easily along the convergent direction than along the divergent one),which plays a key role in a nano water pump driven by a ratchet-like mechanism.We explore the mechanism and calculate the water flux by means of the Fokker-Planck equation and find that our theoretical results are well consistent with the simulation results.Furthermore,the simulation results demonstrate that the effect of deformation location on the water flux will be reduced when the diameter of the nanochannel increases.These findings are helpful for devising water transporters or filters based on carbon nanotubes and understanding the molecular mechanism of biological channels.     

Effect of the surface roughness on interfacial properties of carbon fibers reinforced epoxy resin composites

The effect of the surface roughness on interfacial properties of carbon fibers (CFs) reinforced epoxy (EP) resin composite is studied. Aqueous ammonia was applied to modify the surfaces of CFs. The morphologies and chemical compositions of original CFs and treated CFs (a-CFs) were characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Compared with the smooth surface of original CF, the surface of a-CF has bigger roughness; moreover, the roughness increases with the increase of the treating time. On the other hand, no obvious change in chemical composition takes place, indicating that the treating mechanism of CFs by aqueous ammonia is to physically change the morphologies rather than chemical compositions. In order to investigate the effect of surface roughness on the interfacial properties of CF/EP composites, the wettability and Interfacial Shear Strength (IFSS) were measured. Results show that with the increase of the roughness, the wettabilities of CFs against both water and ethylene glycol improves; in addition, the IFSS value of composites also increases. These attractive phenomena prove that the surface roughness of CFs can effectively overcome the poor interfacial adhesions between CFs and organic matrix, and thus make it possible to fabricate advanced composites based on CFs.     

The effect of bernard-marangoni convection on percolation threshold in amorphous polymer-multiwall carbon nanotube composites

The electrical conductivity of amorphous polymer/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite films strongly depends on the Bernard-Marangoni (B-M) instability during solvent evaporation. We demonstrate that the films exhibit the lowest surface resistivity and the highest light transmittance near the onset point of B-M instability. The polymer/MWCNT composite films exhibit three-dimensional behavior in spite of the B-M instability. The percolation threshold for PC/MWCNT composite films at stable, onset, and unstable condition is 3.3 × 10⁻³, 2.75 × 10⁻³, and 5.15 × 10⁻³ vol.%, respectively.     

Effect of interface structure on deformation behavior of crystalline Cu/amorphous CuZr sandwich structures

The effect of interface types (namely, sharp interface and graded interface) and its thickness on the deformation behavior of crystalline/amorphous/crystalline sandwich structures (CACSSs) under tensile loading are studied using molecular dynamics simulation. Compared with the CACSSs with sharp interface, the CACSSs with gradient interface consistently exhibit good plasticity when the interface thickness is larger than 6 nm, due to the coupling effects among crystalline layer, amorphous layer and crystalline–amorphous interface. With the increase of interface thickness, the plastic deformation mechanism of CACSSs with gradient interface changes from the local plastic deformation in amorphous layer to the homogeneous plastic deformation.     

Free vibration analysis of multi-layer graphene nanoribbons incorporating interlayer shear effect via molecular dynamics simulations and nonlocal elasticity

Free vibration of cantilever multi-layer graphene nanoribbons (MLGNRs) with interlayer shear effect is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations (MD) and nonlocal elasticity. Because of similarity of MLGNRs to sandwich structures, sandwich formulations are expressed in the nonlocal form. By comparing the first two frequencies of MLGNRs with various layers and lengths obtained using MD simulations with those of the nonlocal sandwich formulation; the nonlocal parameter is calibrated to match the results of two methods. The results reveal that the calibrated nonlocal parameter for predicting the second frequencies is dependent on the number of MLGNR layers, and it increases by increasing the number of layers.     

Effect of the silicone interlayer on mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced PMR-15 polyimide composites

Carbon fibers coated with various types and amounts of very high molecular weight silicones (780000 g/mol) are used to make unidirectional PMR-15 polyimide composites. Coating conditions have been found to affect the fiber arrangement within the interlayered composites which consequently has a strong effect on composite properties. The effect of variation of the type and the amounts of the silicone on the impact resistance, toughness and mechanical properties of the composite is determined. Retention of properties of the thermally aged composites has also been studied. Finally, the interlayered composites are checked for improvement of microcracking resistance.