In this study, the elastic properties of aluminium nanocomposite representative volumetric element (RVE) reinforced with GNP have been analysed. Pure aluminium is lightweight and has low strength which is not suitable for various aerospace applications. Adding graphene to aluminium gives a highly strengthened nano-matrix. A 3D multiscale finite element (FE) representative volumetric element (RVE) has been developed to estimate the mechanical behaviour of GNP-reinforced aluminium graphene nanocomposite (AGNC). The factors influencing the behaviour of AGNC have been investigated with different weight fractions (wt%), sizes and orientations of GNP. The Young’s modulus of AGNC is enhanced by increasing the wt% of GNP and reducing the size of GNP in the aluminium matrix. The Young’s modulus of AGNC with 1% wt% has been enhanced two times and yield strength by five times than pure Al matrix. In the case of different sizes of GNP, the strength of 15-nm-diameter GNP AGNC enhanced two times and medium-sized GNP, i.e. 30 nm has shown a great combination of strength and ductility. After that different orientations have also influenced the mechanical properties and enhancement shown in layered orientation compared to different angles of GNP.

Finite element analysis of the mechanical properties of graphene aluminium nanocomposite: varying weight fractions, sizes and orientation
    Abstract
        Graphical abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Finite element modelling
        2.1 Modelling method & material properties
    3 Results and discussion
        3.1 Effects of different % of GNP in Al
        3.2 Effects of varying sizes of GNP in Al
        3.3 Effect of different orientations of GNP
        3.4 Validation
        3.5 Future scope
    4 Conclusions
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Mamta Dahiya(Department of Mechanical Engineering, MAIT, Maharaja Agrasen University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 174103, India, Centre of Excellence in Nanotechnology, Maharaja Agrasen University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 174103, India)
• Virat Khanna(Department of Mechanical Engineering, MAIT, Maharaja Agrasen University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 174103, India, Centre of Excellence in Nanotechnology, Maharaja Agrasen University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 174103, India)
• Suneev Anil Bansal(Bharat Institute of Engineering and Technology, Mangalpally, Ibrahimpatnam, Hyderabad, Telangana 501510, India)