Thermo Mechanical Fracture Response of Nano Enhanced Aerospace Composites

Abstract

Aerospace composites, such as carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) and glass 
fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRPs), are subjected to extreme thermo-mechanical loads, leading to 
fracture initiation and propagation that compromise structural integrity. Nano-enhancements, 
including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), nanosilica, and nano-TiO₂, 
have been integrated to improve fracture toughness, thermal stability, and mechanical performance 
under cyclic and thermal shock conditions. This review synthesizes recent studies on the thermo
mechanical fracture response of these nano-enhanced composites, focusing on mechanisms like 
crack deflection, bridging, and energy dissipation. Key findings indicate enhancements in fracture 
toughness (up to 100%), reduced crack growth rates under fatigue, and improved durability in 
thermal environments. For instance, nanosilica-modified epoxies exhibit superior impact 
resistance for aerospace applications. Hybrid systems with GNPs and liquid metals show 
synergistic improvements in thermomechanical properties. Challenges include nanomaterial 
dispersion and agglomeration effects on fracture behavior. The paper discusses applications in 
aircraft structures, emphasizing the need for multiscale modeling to predict responses under 
combined loads.