Investigation of deformation mechanisms of staggered nanocomposites using molecular dynamics

S Mathiazhagan and S Anup, PHYSICS LETTERS A, 380, 2849-2853 (2016).

DOI: 10.1016/j.physleta.2016.06.046

Biological materials with nanostructure of regularly or stair-wise staggered arrangements of hard platelets reinforced in a soft protein matrix have superior mechanical properties. Applications of these nanostructures to ceramic matrix composites could enhance their toughness. Using molecular dynamics simulations, mechanical behaviour of the bio-inspired nanocomposites is studied. Regularly staggered model shows better flow behaviour compared to stair-wise staggered model due to the symmetrical crack propagation along the interface. Though higher stiffness and strength are obtained for stair-wise staggered models, rapid crack propagation reduces the toughness. Arresting this crack propagation could lead to superior mechanical properties in stair-wise staggered models. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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