A numerical study on reinforced composites by spherical nano-particles

In the current paper, finite element method is employed for numerical simulations and the study of influential parameters on elastic modulus of polymer-matrix nano-composites. Effects of different key parameters including particle elastic modulus, interphase elastic modulus, matrix elastic modulus, interphase thickness and particle volume fraction on total elastic modulus of nano-composite materials are observed in order to shed some light on experimental parameters that are difficult to measure. To this end, a three phase (i.e. particle, interphase and matrix) unit cell is modelled and results compare with previously introduced theoretical model. It is found that interphase parameters such as elastic modulus and thickness strongly influences the elastic properties of the nano-composite and cannot be neglected.