Shock absorption by multilayer carbon nanotube packings

TL;DR

This study uses simulations to demonstrate that multilayer arrays of single-walled carbon nanotubes effectively absorb shock energy, especially with diameters of 2.7-3.9 nm, through energy transfer and structural changes.

Contribution

It reveals the shock absorption mechanism in nanotube packings and identifies optimal diameters for energy dissipation, advancing understanding of nanoscale impact mitigation.

Findings

Nanotube arrays effectively absorb impact energy.

Maximum depreciation occurs at 2.7-3.9 nm diameter.

Energy transfer involves transition to a higher energy stationary state.

Abstract

The propagation of transverse impact energy in a multilayer packing (in an array) of parallel single-walled carbon nanotubes has been simulated. It has been shown that such nanotube arrays are effective shock absorbers. The depreciation effect is most pronounced for packings of nanotubes with a diameter of 2.7-3.9 nm. Here, part of the impact energy is absorbed due to the transfer of the packing to a higher energy stationary state, in which part of the nanotubes is in a collapsed state. The impact impulse reaches the other edge of the packing most weakened and distributed over time. For nanotubes with a smaller diameter, the compression of the array occurs elastically without energy accumulation, and for nanotubes with a larger diameter - with energy release.