Numerical investigation into effect of self-healing composite microcapsules thickness and diameter on their failure strength

Purpose Microcapsule-embedded autonomic healing materials have the ability to repair microcracks when they come into contact with the crack by releasing the healing agent. The microcapsules with specific shape and thickness effect in releasing healing agent to the cracked surfaces. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to know the load bearing capacity of the self-healing microcapsules and the stresses developed in the material. Design/methodology/approach In the present study, self-healing microcapsule is modelled and integrated with the polymer matrix composite. The aim of the present study is to investigate failure criteria of Poly (methyl methacrylate) microcapsules by varying the shell thickness, capsule diameter and loading conditions. The strength of the capsule is evaluated by keeping the shell thickness as constant and varying the capsule diameter. Uniformly distributed pressure loads were applied on the capsule-reinforced polymer matrix composite to assess the failure strength of capsules and composite. Findings It is observed from the results that the load required to break the capsules is increasing with the increase in capsule diameter. The failure strength of microcapsule with 100 µm diameter and 5 µm thickness is observed as 255 MPa. For an applied load range of 40–160 N/mm2 on the capsules embedded composite, the maximum stress developed in the capsules is observed as 308 MPa. Originality/value Failure strengths of microcapsules and stresses developed in the microcapsule-reinforced polymer composites were evaluated.