Sequential thermoelastic multiscale analysis of nanoparticulate composites.

The thermoelastic properties of SiC/epoxy nanocomposites are investigated through a molecular dynamics (MDs) simulation and micromechanics bridging method. One major finding from the MD simulation is that not only the elastic modulus but also the thermal expansion coefficient of the nanocomposites exhibits particle-size dependency at fixed volume fractions. In order to describe such effects that are observed from atomistic simulations, a micromechanics-based scale bridging method is suggested that handles both the elastic and residual fields of the nanocomposites with the help of the effective interface concept and sequential information transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]