Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Sensitivity of Carbon Nanotube and Graphene Nanocomposites to MMOD Impact Damage for Inflatable Structures

摘要

Inflatable structures used for space applications are highly prone to micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) impact damages, which have the potential to affect the performance of the structures. Although multiple layers of impact resistant materials are used as shield to ensure the safety of the structures, an efficient structural health monitoring system is needed to track its damage state. In this work, we demonstrate that hybrid nanocomposites, made of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) with an epoxy matrix, can potentially be used as impact damage detection sensors. The electrical resistance of these flexible nanocomposites is sensitive to strain and presence of damage. An improvement of the sensitivity to damage is observed in the hybrid nanocomposites, compared to monofiller CNT nanocomposites. To understand the sensing mechanisms of the nanocomposites due to damages, we use a two-dimensional percolation model with Monte Carlo simulations to model the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites with CNTs and GNPs fillers. The change in resistance due to the presence of holes in the modeled nanocomposites is examined.