ABSTRACT
In this paper, a numerical model was constructed to simulate compression tests on the multilayered composite pillars. The experimental part of work has been performed by scientists at Arizona State University and the detail has been published in Acta Materialia (D.R.P. Singh, 2010). Nano-indentation simulations on the same structure (Al50/ SiC50 nanolaminates) have been investigated in the past by our authors (G. Tang, 2009; 2008 & 2010). The effective elastic modulus along perpendicular direction to the multilayer is found
1 INTRODUCTION
Nanomaterials are called “the future of materials”. Nanotechnology is an emerging and rapidly growing field. Many of the devices and systems used in modern industry are already in the nano-scale domain. Nanomaterials may possess advantages of extremely high strength, fatigue resistance, thermal resistance, wear resistance and bio-compatibility, compared with traditional material. Nanomaterials are finding applications in area spanning from structural coatings to microelectronics. Synthetic and natural composite laminates have been shown to exhibit a combination of excellent strength and toughness (D.R. Lesuer, 1996). Composite laminates on the nano-scale with unique properties have been developed. These composites have been investigated in many different layered combinations: Metal-metal composites, metal-ceramic composites, and ceramic-ceramic composites. Metal-ceramic nanolaminate systems can exhibit a combination of high strength, high toughness, damage tolerance, as well as their potential applications in functional devices (T.C. Chou, 1992 & C.H. Liu, 1996).
