TY - JOUR

T1 - Tailoring structure of inclusion with strain-induced closure to reduce Poisson's ratio of composite materials

AU - Hou, Xiaonan

AU - Hu, Hong

AU - Silberschmidt, Vadim

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - A novel 3D continuum shell structure is introduced as inclusion for composite materials with special mechanical properties in this paper. Its geometry is based on a hollow re-entrant tetrahedron. In a composite, such an inclusion can demonstrate a closure effect induced by external compression. Its specific deformation mechanism results in a special character of deformation and affects effective (global) mechanical properties of the composite. A finite-element method is used to explore quantitatively and qualitatively the deformation mechanism of the suggested inclusion and its effect on the overall mechanical performance of the composite. In this study, geometrical features of the inclusion are used as parameters. The obtained results demonstrate that this kind of inclusion could reduce the composite's Poisson's ratio; moreover, its magnitude is adjustable by changing geometrical parameters of the inclusion. Besides, an overall hardening effect is achieved for the composite, with the magnitude of global stiffness also significantly affected by geometrical features of the inclusion. Thus, the developed inclusion actually provides a potential to develop new composites with a tunable Poisson's ratio and enhanced mechanical properties.

AB - A novel 3D continuum shell structure is introduced as inclusion for composite materials with special mechanical properties in this paper. Its geometry is based on a hollow re-entrant tetrahedron. In a composite, such an inclusion can demonstrate a closure effect induced by external compression. Its specific deformation mechanism results in a special character of deformation and affects effective (global) mechanical properties of the composite. A finite-element method is used to explore quantitatively and qualitatively the deformation mechanism of the suggested inclusion and its effect on the overall mechanical performance of the composite. In this study, geometrical features of the inclusion are used as parameters. The obtained results demonstrate that this kind of inclusion could reduce the composite's Poisson's ratio; moreover, its magnitude is adjustable by changing geometrical parameters of the inclusion. Besides, an overall hardening effect is achieved for the composite, with the magnitude of global stiffness also significantly affected by geometrical features of the inclusion. Thus, the developed inclusion actually provides a potential to develop new composites with a tunable Poisson's ratio and enhanced mechanical properties.

U2 - 10.1063/1.4882855

DO - 10.1063/1.4882855

M3 - Journal article

VL - 115

JO - Journal of Applied Physics

JF - Journal of Applied Physics

SN - 0021-8979

M1 - 224903

ER -