Tailoring SWCNT Elastic Properties for Enhanced Durability in Additive Manufactured Prosthetic Devices

This study focuses on the numerical estimation of the effective Young's modulus of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) using a continuum mechanics approach tailored for additive manufacturing applications in prosthetic limbs. In our finite element model, the positions of carbon atoms within the SWCNT are represented as nodes linked by beam elements that embody the geometrical and elastic mechanical properties derived from interatomic forces. These forces are quantitatively assessed by equating them to the total interatomic potential energies of the SWCNT's molecular structure. Employing an equivalent continuum technique, we evaluate the effective elastic properties across various SWCNT configurations and benchmark our findings against existing numerical and experimental data from the literature. Our results, which align closely with published studies, demonstrate the isotropic behaviour of SWCNT and reveal a significant dependence of stiffness on the modelled wall thickness. These insights are critical for the development of enhanced prosthetic limbs through additive manufacturing, where material properties such as stiffness and durability are paramount.