Multidomain thermal simulation of CNT composites by hybrid BNM

The equivalent heat conductivity of the carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced nanocomposites is evaluated using a representative volume element (RVE) with one or several CNTs embedded. The hybrid boundary method (hybrid BNM) is combined with a multidomain solver to analyze the RVE with proper boundary conditions. Some preliminary results are presented and discussed. Emphasis is placed on studying the impact of the CNT's alignment on the equivalent thermal properties. It is demonstrated that the equivalent thermal properties are strongly dependent on the CNT's alignment. Some specific alignments may significantly increase the equivalent heat conductivity of the CNT composites. The feasibility of the method for further investigation is also demonstrated.