Finite element predictions of effective multifunctional properties of interpenetrating phase composites with novel triply periodic solid shell architectured reinforcements

摘要

In this paper, new interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs) based on the mathematically-known triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) are proposed. In these IPCs, different TPMS architectures are used as reinforcing solid shells to increase the effective multifunctional properties of IPCs. Several threedimensional representative volume elements (RVEs) are generated and studied using the finite element method in order to predict the effective properties for various TPMS-based IPC architectures. The calculated properties are compared with some analytical bounds and conventional composites. The proposed IPCs have superiority against the conventional composites, and they possess effective properties close to the upper Hashin-Shtrikman bounds. Limited experimental validation of the computational prediction of effective conductivity is presented where the TPMS is made of conductive carbon nanostructured-based polymer composite. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.