Flexural fatigue model for carbon nanofiber/chopped strand mat/epoxy nanocomposites

Abstract- In this study, a new flexural fatigue model based on the flexural stiffness degradation approach for nanocomposites was developed. First, the modified flexural stiffness degradation model was introduced and applied to predict the fatigue behavior of chopped strand mat/epoxy composites. In order to obtain the material constants of the proposed model, experimental investigation of the fatigue behavior of chopped strand mat/epoxy composites under displacement controlled fatigue condition was performed. Then, the model was applied to predict the flexural stiffness reduction of carbon nanofiber/chopped strand mat/epoxy. Finally, for verification of the model, displacement controlled flexural fatigue test bench (BFM-110) was used. The obtained results by the new flexural fatigue model are in very good agreement with the experimental data of 0.25 wt.% carbon nanofiber/chopped glass fibers/epoxy nanocomposites. Keywords - , , , , .