Improving crashworthiness by damping vibrations in cfrp composite structures using carbon nanotubes springs

Carbon nanotubes have tensile strength approximately 30 times higher than the conventional steel. Moreover theoretically these CNT moulded into springs can store potentially 1000 times more energy than steel. Carbon nanotubes have excellent damping characteristics, which is possibly due to interfacial friction between the carbon nanotubes and the polymer resins and also because of large surface area over given specific mass. There applications are still far from reality. But here in this paper I will try to bring the CNT springs to a new application to improve the crashworthiness of a car may it be a formula one or a supercar whose chassis is moulded out of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP). These springs combined with piezoelectric substance can give tremendous improvement in driver’s safety during collisions. Here I have tried to combine the mechanical strength of Carbon nanotube with best suitable piezoelectric material to derive a new property which will transform impact energy into electrical energy and hence utilize it for driver’s protection. In the paper I have studied various piezoelectric materials, their bonding and behaviour with carbon atoms. I have tried to generate a possible stable structure theoretically which can withstand high impact as well as generate enough potential energy for driver to be safe during the impact.