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Probabilistic Strength of Carbon Nanotube Yarns

  • Irene J. Beyerlein*
  • , Pankaj K. Porwal
  • , Yuntian T. Zhu
  • , X. Frank Xu
  • , S. Leigh Phoenix
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 12 - Chapter in an edited book (Author)peer-review

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns are nanoscale filamentary composites, consisting of thousands of CNTs in cross-section following helical paths at varying angles about the yarn axis. Ranging from 2-20 μm in diameter and continuous in length, they are a potential replacement for currently available advanced reinforcement fibers. However, due to the statistical variation in the strength of the constituent CNTs and the inhomogeneous yarn microstructure, the strengths and strains-to-failure of CNT yarns vary widely. In this work, analytical and simulation models are applied to predict the relationship between Weibull strength CNTs and the statistical failure behavior of CNT yarns. The strengths of short, dry yarns (no polymer)with and without interfacial friction are predicted to be Gaussian. Such variations in strength are well known to lead to size effects in fibrous composites and other brittlematerials. To estimate the effect of yarn length on strength, the statistical strength distribution for longer yarns than simulated is determined using the weakest link concept and presented as a function of yarn gauge length, twist angle, CNT Weibull parameters, and diameter. The resulting distribution is neither Gaussian nor Weibull. It is shown that the mean and variance in yarn strength both decrease with surface twist angle, number of CNTs in cross-section, and gauge length. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Mathematical Modeling and Experimental Methods for Materials and Structures
Subtitle of host publicationThe Jacob Aboudi Volume
EditorsRivka Gilat, Leslie Banks-Sills
Place of PublicationDordrecht
PublisherSpringer 
Pages211-222
ISBN (Electronic)9789048134670
ISBN (Print)9789048134663
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameSolid Mechanics and its Applications
Volume168
ISSN (Print)0925-0042

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