Experiment and theoretical investigations on the nanocomposites with their applications in the defence equipment and transportation services

The proposed research work deals with theoretical and experimental investigations on the mechanical and vibro-acoustic characterization of nanomaterials and their reinforced nanocomposites. The nanocomposites prepared using metal powder (and their carbides) as the matrix and different nanomaterials as reinforcement will be considered in the proposed research. The manufacturing of the nanocomposites with different compositions will be done through hot compression of a mixture of the metal powder (and their carbides) and nanomaterials. The prepared samples will be subjected to universal tensile testing, fatigue life testing and wear behaviour to characterise their mechanical properties. The effective thermal and electrical conductivities will also be measured for their applications in electronic devices. The effect of volume/mass fractions and curing temperatures and their effect on the mechanical properties will be investigated in detail. The micromechanics models for evaluating the effective mechanical properties will also be examined. This will further be extended to investigate the effect of nanomaterial reinforcements with asphalt binder and aggregate to formulate an electrical active smart asphalt concrete mixture for improved performance and structural health monitoring. The asphalt binder and mixtures will be tested for mechanical performance and electrical conductivity. The effect of failures on electrical conductivity will also be examined. On another front, the role of nanomaterials serving as intermediates for improving the bonding between the fibre and epoxy will also be explored. First, the nanomaterials will be mixed with epoxy through an ultrasonicator and thereafter this solution will be used as a matrix for preparing the fibre-reinforced laminated composites considering both carbon and glass fibre as reinforcement. The fibre-reinforced composites will be prepared through a hand moulding process. The samples will be subjected to three-point and four-point bend tests to introduce the delamination in the composite and the load required to start the delamination in the composites will be a gain parameter in this case. These composite materials find applications in lightweight and high strength structures. However, such materials need to have better vibro-acoustic properties along with its higher specific strength. An experimental investigation will be carried out to see the effect of different compositions of nanocomposite materials on their vibro-acoustics characteristics in air as well as underwater. Sound absorption coefficients will be measured using the impedance tube setup in air as well as in water. The common defects in such composites like cracks and delamination has significant effect on the vibro-acoustic response of materials. A theoretical and experimental study will be carried out to investigate the vibro- acoustic response of materials with and without defects.