Multiscale mass-spring models of carbon nanotube foams

This article is concerned with the mechanical properties of dense, vertically aligned carbon nanotube foams subject to one-dimensional compressive loading. We develop a discrete model directly inspired by the micromechanical response reported experimentally for CNT foams, where infinitesimal portions of the tubes are represented by collections of uniform bi-stable springs. Under cyclic loading, the given model predicts an initial elastic deformation, a non-homogeneous buckling regime, and a densification response, accompanied by a hysteretic unloading path. We compute the dynamic dissipation of such a model through an analytic approach. The continuum limit of the microscopic spring chain defines a mesoscopic dissipative element (micro-meso transition), which represents a finite portion of the foam thickness. An upper Email addresses: [email protected] (F. Fraternali* ), [email protected] (T. Blesgen), [email protected] (A. Amendola), [email protected] (C. Daraio) *Corresponding author Preprint submitted to Journal Mech. Phys. Solids September 6, 2010 Self-Built PDF