Search results for "Carbon nanotube fibres"

Mechanical properties of carbon nanotube fibres: St Venant’s principle at the limit and the role of imperfections

2015

Abstract Carbon nanotube (CNT) fibres, especially if perfect in terms of their purity and alignment, are extremely anisotropic. With their high axial strength but ready slippage between the CNTs, there is utmost difficulty in transferring uniformly any applied force. Finite element analysis is used to predict the stress distribution in CNT fibres loaded by grips attached to their surface, along with the resulting tensile stress–strain curves. This study demonstrates that, in accordance with St Venant’s principle, very considerable length-to-diameter ratios (∼103) are required before the stress becomes uniform across the fibre, even at low strains. It is proposed that lack of perfect orienta…