Experimental investigation of compressive modulus, ultimate strain and fracture energy of epoxy based nanocomposite reinforced with carbon nanotubes, under conditions of high strain rate

In this investigation the effect of adding 0.25% nanotubes on the compressive modulus, ultimate strain and fracture energy of epoxy based nanocomposite have been investigated under conditions of high strain rate. Results have shown that increased from zero to 0.25 weight percent carbon nanotubes, compressive modulus, ultimate strain and fracture energy of nanocomposite, in terms high strain rates, will increase respectively, 3%, 22% and 30.5%. But the ultimate strength increases and then decreases. So that the maximum increase in strength occurs with the addition of 0.25% nanotubes and the ultimate strength will increase 11.6% in this case. And compared with experiments under low strain rate, compressive modulus and fracture strength, for 0.25 wt% nanotubes samples, decrease respectively 66.1 percent and 7 percent. The ultimate strain and fracture energy increase 92 percent and 72 percent respectively.