title: Tailoring Material Stiffness by Filler Particle Organization.
abstract: In the context of emerging methods to control particle organization in particle-matrix composite materials, we explore, using finite element analysis, how to modulate the material bulk mechanical stiffness. Compared to a composite containing randomly distributed particles, material stiffness is enhanced 100-fold when filler particles are aligned into linear chains lying parallel to the loading direction. In contrast, chains aligned perpendicular to that direction produce negligible stiffness change. These outcomes reveal how zigzag chains, which provide intermediate results, can modulate stiffness. The stiffness decreases gradually with increasing zigzag angle θ over a range spanning 2 orders of magnitude.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡Department of Engineering Physics, McMaster University , 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L7, Canada.
authors.forename: Peiying J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡Department of Engineering Physics, McMaster University , 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L7, Canada.
authors.forename: Suvojit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡Department of Engineering Physics, McMaster University , 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L7, Canada.
authors.forename: Peidong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡Department of Engineering Physics, McMaster University , 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L7, Canada.
authors.forename: Ishwar K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Puri
keywords: directed assembly; material design; particle reinforcement; polymer-matrix composite; soft material