Experimental and analytical investigations of the tensile behavior of graphene-reinforced polymer nanocomposites

An analytical study was performed to predict tensile behavior of graphene reinforced polymer nanocomposites using shear-lag and cohesive zone models. Interfacial debonding and matrix damage were considered as the main mechanisms for degradation of the mechanical properties. In addition, tensile tests were performed for neat epoxy and nanocomposites containing various amounts of nanographene in order to validate the analytical results. Tensile stress-strain curves and also obtained values for tensile strength of nanocomposites using analytical model have been compared with the results of the experiments. There are reasonable agreements between evaluated analytical and experimental results.