Gilles Lubineau

On a damage mesomodel for laminates: micro–meso relationships, possibilities and limits

The damage mesomodel for laminates (DML) which has been developed over the past 15 years (in particular at Cachan) is revisited, considering the numerous pieces of work, both experimental and theoretical, that have been carried out in micromechanics. This is a first attempt to connect completely the micromechanics and mesomechanics of laminates.

An enhanced mesomodel for laminates based on micromechanics

Abstract An enhanced version of the damage mesomodel for laminates (DML), which has been developed over the last 15 years at Cachan, is introduced in the light of the extensive work— both theoretical and experimental— in micromechanics. The new mesomodel is fully compatible with classical micromechanics models.

Improving electrical conductivity in polycarbonate nanocomposites using highly conductive PEDOT/PSS coated MWCNTs.

We describe a strategy to design highly electrically conductive polycarbonate nanocomposites by using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) coated with a thin layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate), a conductive polymer. We found that this coating method improves the electrical properties of the nanocomposites in two ways. First, the coating becomes the main electrical conductive path. Second, the coating promotes the formation of a percolation network at a low filler concentration (0.3 wt %). To tailor the electrical properties of the conductive polymer coating, we used a polar solvent ethylene glycol, and we can tune the final properties of the nanocomposite by controlling the concentrations of the elementary constituents or the intrinsic properties of the conductive polymer coating. This very flexible technique allows for tailoring the properties of the final product.

On a damage mesomodel for laminates: micromechanics basis and improvement

Abstract The so-called “damage mesomodel for laminates” developed in the past fifteen years, particularly at Cachan, is being reconsidered in the light of the recent works, theoretical as well as experimental, done on the microscale. Previous works have already proved that this mesomodel can be interpreted as the homogenized result of micromodels involving common microdamage mechanisms: transverse microcracking, delamination at the tips of transverse microcracks and fiber–matrix debonding. Here, we are going one step further by considering microcracking in skin plies of various thicknesses. To fit experimental results better, we introduced a modification of the coupling of the three microdamage scenarios in all plies. Contrary to the classical approach, the critical values of the energy release rate are not associated with a healthy material but with a damaged material; the first damage mechanism to occur is associated with non-transverse microcracks due to nearly uniformly distributed fiber–matrix debonding in the damaged ply. These mechanisms and this coupling are homogenized on the mesoscale, which leads to an improved version of the “damage mesomodel for laminates” involving only a small number of material constants which can be interpreted on the microscale. Thickness effects are taken into account: the improved version, unlike the previous one, is valid for arbitrary values of the thickness. We discuss experimental data and identification using carbon–epoxy laminates at room temperature.

The temperature-dependent microstructure of PEDOT/PSS films: insights from morphological, mechanical and electrical analyses

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) is a widely used conductive polymer in the field of flexible electronics. The ways its microstructure changes over a broad range of temperatures remain unclear. This paper describes microstructure changes at different temperatures and correlates the microstructure with its physical properties (mechanical and electrical). We used High-Angle Annular Dark-Field Scanning Electron Microscopy (HAADF-STEM) combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) to determine the morphology and elemental atomic ratio of the film at different temperatures. These results together with the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis provide the foundation for a model of how the temperature affects the microstructure of PEDOT/PSS. Moreover, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and electrical characterization were performed to analyze the microstructure and physical property correlations.

A Pyramidal Modeling Scheme for Laminates – Identification of Transverse Cracking

Modern approaches to the modeling of composites are no longer limited to the use of a single approach for the whole structure or for all the degradation mechanisms. On the contrary, modern advances enable the definition of truly multiscale models in order to describe the degradation. Thus, homogenized models can be rigorously deduced from the underlying micromechanics. In the past few years, LMT-Cachan has made a number of contributions to the three key points of these multiscale approaches: (1) the improvement of the reference model on the fine scale, (2) the definition of a controlled correspondence between the scales, and (3) the definition of the associated homogenized model. Here, the complete approach is formalized as a modeling pyramid. Each mechanism of degradation is described on the more relevant scale within an ‘hybrid micromechanical model’. Based on the reference modeling, constitutive laws can be transfered within the unique framework of damage mechanics for being applied within commercial softwares. As an illustration, we focus more specifically on the homogenized law obtained for transverse cracking. The constitutive law and the material parameters issued from the homogenization, which define the model on the higher scale, are reviewed. Their identification is studied in detail. An important key point of the pyramidal approach appears here. Since it allows the interpretation of every quantity on different scales (both at the micromechanical and at the mesomechanical scales), the most relevant scale can be used for the identification of a chosen property. We limit ourselves to a ‘classical’ identification. We mean by classical identification a procedure based on straight specimens. This process, to a certain extent, uses a parametric simulation of the nonlinear model based on a finite element representation of the test samples. The complete model is then used for the simulation of an industrial sample with hole. That example emphasizes the interest of underlying micromechanial variables for experimental validation.

Ultrasensitive, Stretchable Strain Sensors Based on Fragmented Carbon Nanotube Papers

The development of strain sensors featuring both ultra high sensitivity and high stretchability is still a challenge. We demonstrate that strain sensors based on fragmented single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) paper embedded in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) can sustain their sensitivity even at very high strain levels (with a gauge factor of over 107 at 50% strain). This record sensitivity is ascribed to the low initial electrical resistance (5-28 Ω) of the SWCNT paper and the wide change in resistance (up to 106 Ω) governed by the percolated network of SWCNT in the cracked region. The sensor response remains nearly unchanged after 10 000 strain cycles at 20% proving the robustness of this technology. This fragmentation based sensing system brings opportunities to engineer highly sensitive stretchable sensors.

Semi-metallic, strong and stretchable wet-spun conjugated polymer microfibers

A dramatic improvement in electrical conductivity is necessary to make conductive polymer fibers viable candidates in applications such as flexible electrodes, conductive textiles, and fast-response sensors and actuators. In this study, high-performance poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) conjugated polymer microfibers were fabricated via wet-spinning followed by hot-drawing. Due to the combined effects of the vertical hot-drawing process and doping/de-doping the microfibers with ethylene glycol (EG), we achieved a record electrical conductivity of 2804 S cm−1. This is, to the best of our knowledge, a six-fold improvement over the best previously reported value for PEDOT/PSS fibers (467 S cm−1) and a two-fold improvement over the best values for conductive polymer films treated by EG de-doping (1418 S cm−1). Moreover, we found that these highly conductive fibers experience a semiconductor–metal transition at 313 K. They also have superior mechanical properties with a Youngs modulus up to 8.3 GPa, a tensile strength reaching 409.8 MPa and a large elongation before failure (21%). The most conductive fiber also demonstrates an extraordinary electrical performance during stretching/unstretching: the conductivity increased by 25% before the fiber rupture point with a maximum strain up to 21%. Simple fabrication of the semi-metallic, strong and stretchable wet-spun PEDOT/PSS microfibers described here could make them available for conductive smart electronics.

A highly sensitive, low-cost, wearable pressure sensor based on conductive hydrogel spheres

Wearable pressure sensing solutions have promising future for practical applications in health monitoring and human/machine interfaces. Here, a highly sensitive, low-cost, wearable pressure sensor based on conductive single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)/alginate hydrogel spheres is reported. Conductive and piezoresistive spheres are embedded between conductive electrodes (indium tin oxide-coated polyethylene terephthalate films) and subjected to environmental pressure. The detection mechanism is based on the piezoresistivity of the SWCNT/alginate conductive spheres and on the sphere-electrode contact. Step-by-step, we optimized the design parameters to maximize the sensitivity of the sensor. The optimized hydrogel sensor exhibited a satisfactory sensitivity (0.176 ΔR/R0/kPa(-1)) and a low detectable limit (10 Pa). Moreover, a brief response time (a few milliseconds) and successful repeatability were also demonstrated. Finally, the efficiency of this strategy was verified through a series of practical tests such as monitoring human wrist pulse, detecting throat muscle motion or identifying the location and the distribution of an external pressure using an array sensor (4 × 4).

High-ampacity conductive polymer microfibers as fast response wearable heaters and electromechanical actuators

Conductive fibers with enhanced physical properties and functionalities are needed for a diversity of electronic devices. Here, we report very high performance in the thermal and mechanical response of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) microfibers when subjected to an electrical current. These fibers were made by combining the hot-drawing assisted wetspinning process with ethylene glycol doping/de-doping that can work at a current density as high as 1.8 × 104 A cm−2, which is comparable to that of carbon nanotube fibers. Their electrothermal response was investigated using optical sensors and verified to be as fast as 63 °C s−1 and is comparable with that of metallic heating elements (20–50 °C s−1). We investigated the electromechanical actuation resulted from the reversible sorption/desorption of moisture controlled by electro-induced heating. The results revealed an improvement of several orders of magnitudes compared to other linear conductive polymer-based actuators in air. Specifically, the fibers we designed here have a rapid stress generation rate (>40 MPa s−1) and a wide operating frequency range (up to 40 Hz). These fibers have several characteristics including fast response, low-driven voltage, good repeatability, long cycle life and high energy efficiency, favoring their use as heating elements on wearable textiles and as artificial muscles for robotics.