# Dynamics of Drone Blades Based on Polymer Nanocomposites Incorporating Graphene, Carbon Nanotube, and Fullerene

## TL;DR

This study compares how adding graphene, carbon nanotubes, and fullerene to drone blades affects their stiffness and stability.

## Contribution

The study identifies multi-walled carbon nanotubes as the most effective nanofiller for improving drone blade performance.

## Key findings

- MWCNTs provided the greatest stiffness improvement at 1500 rpm in mode (1,1).
- Optimal performance was observed at 5 wt.% nanofiller content.
- Setting angle significantly influences damping in specific vibration modes.

## Abstract

Polymer nanocomposites offer significant potential for improving the strength-to-weight ratio and dynamic behavior of drone blades. This study examines the vibration characteristics of tapered aramid (Kevlar)/epoxy composite blades reinforced with nanocarbon fillers—graphene (2D), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs, 1D), and fullerene (0D)—to determine the most effective filler for enhancing stiffness and operational stability. The laminated blades (300 mm length, 200 mm width, root thickness 13 mm, tip thickness 8 mm) incorporate ply drop-offs and a central honeycomb core. Modeling was performed using classical laminate plate theory integrated with the finite element method (FEM) in MATLAB (R2016a). Under clamped–free–free–free boundary conditions, the study considered rotational speeds of 750–2250 rpm, setting angles of 30–60°, various fiber orientations, and nanofiller contents of 0–10 wt.%. The results indicate that while the setting angle minimally affects natural frequency, it significantly influences damping in modes (1,2) and (2,1). Increasing nanofiller content improves stiffness, with optimal performance observed near 5 wt.%. At 1500 rpm in mode (1,1), MWCNTs provided the greatest enhancement. Overall, MWCNTs exhibited superior stiffness improvement and rotational stability compared to other fillers.