Multi-factor analysis of the effects of graphene oxide nanoplatelets on self-healing polymer composites based on micromechanical FE simulation

To investigate the effects of graphene oxide (GO) nanoplatelets and mixed self-healing microcapsules on the mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites, a multi-factor analysis was made based on numerical experimental results, which comprehensively reveals the influences of structural parameters (including the volume fraction, aspect ratio, orientation of GO and the content of self-healing microcapsules). A series of micromechanical FE models of nanocomposites containing randomly-distributed nanoplatelets were established and validated by experimental data. The competing failure mechanisms of matrix damage and interface debonding have been fully considered in the simulation. The significance levels of the nanocomposite’s structural parameters were quantitatively determined finally, and it was found that the volume fraction is the most significant factor and the aspect ratio is the next (the weights are 46.1% and 21.7%, respectively). The work would provide effective theoretical instructions in the material design and optimization of GO-reinforced self-healing polymer nanocomposites.