Numerical Modeling of Flexural Enhancement in Carbon Nanotube/Cement Composite

An innovative type of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC)—carbon nanotube (CNT)/cement composite—is studied both empirically and numerically in terms of its structural performance. Experimental results prove that CNTs could significantly enhance the flexural strength and toughness of cement beams. In addition, ANSYS, a commercial finite element method (FEM) tool, is employed to construct a CNT/cement composite beam model that could simulate the response of the composite beams tested in the laboratory. Moreover, empirical results are used to validate the numerical beam model, as well as calibrate the effective shear strength at the interface of CNTs and cement matrix. This study verifies the efficacy of reinforcing cementitious material using CNTs and demonstrates that finite element analysis could serve as a powerful tool to investigate the mechanical properties of CNT/cement composite.