Numerical Analysis of the Transverse Thermal Conductivity of Composites With Imperfect Interfaces

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Graham ◽  
David L. McDowell

Estimation of the transverse thermal conductivity of continuous fiber reinforced composites containing a random fiber distribution with imperfect interfaces was performed using finite element analysis. FEA results were compared with the classical solution of Hasselman and Johnson to determine limits of applicability. The results show that the Hasselman and Johnson model predicts the effective thermal conductivity within 3 percent of the numerical estimates for interfacial conductance values of 1×10−2−1×103W/m2K, fiber-matrix conductivity ratios between 1 and 100, and fiber volume fractions up to 50 percent which are properties typical of ceramic composites. The results show that the applicability of the classical dilute concentration model can not be determined by constituent volume fraction, but by the degree of interaction between the microstructural heterogeneities.

2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 1245-1255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sangwook Sihn ◽  
Ajit K. Roy

Micromechanical analyses were conducted for the prediction of transverse thermal conductivity of laminated composites. We reproduced and reinvestigated both analytic and numerical models with regular and randomly distributed fibers in matrix material. A parametric study was conducted for wide ranges of fiber volume fractions and fiber-to-matrix thermal conductivity ratios. The numerical solutions using finite element (FE) analysis were compared with various analytic solutions from simple and enhanced rule or mixtures and an effective inclusion method (EIM). It was found that the EIM yields a reasonably agreeable solution with the FE solution using a hexagonal-array of regular fiber distribution for wide ranges of fiber volume fraction and fiber-to-matrix thermal conductivity ratios, which makes the EIM a useful method in predicting various multiphysical transverse properties of composites. Comparison of the results from the regular- and random-fiber models indicates that the transverse thermal conductivity of composites can significantly be affected by the random fiber distributions, especially at high fiber volume fractions. A similar conclusion was made for the foams with random pore distribution. It was shown that the predictions with the random fiber distribution agree well with the experimental data.


2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Golestanian

Models are presented for the determination of thermal conductivity of a composite lamina with woven fiber mats. In analyzing the cure cycle of a composite part, the common practice has been to use weight-averaged thermal properties. The limitation of this approach becomes apparent when one finds that thermal conductivity calculated for fiberglass/epoxy composite is very close to thermal conductivity of carbon/epoxy composite. This happens for composite parts with the same fiber volume fraction. In weight-average formulations the effect of fiber thermal conductivity is overshadowed by the density of the constituents. To overcome this problem, one needs to take another approach. In this investigation finite element analysis is performed to determine thermal conductivities of fiberglass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy composite lamina. The resulting thermal conductivities are different for the two composite types. These results make more physical sense since thermal conductivity of carbon fiber mat is much higher than that of fiberglass mat.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Krauklis ◽  
Abedin Gagani ◽  
Andreas Echtermeyer

Swelling in fiber-reinforced composites is anisotropic. In this work, dealing with glass fiber epoxy composite immersed in distilled water, swelling coefficients are obtained in each direction experimentally. Swelling behaviour in the fiber direction was constrained by the non-swelling fibers and was close to null, while swelling in the transverse directions was found to occur freely—similar to the unconstrained polymer. An analytical method for predicting anisotropic swelling in composites from the swelling of the matrix polymer is reported in this work. The method has an advantage that it is simple to use in practice and requires only a swelling coefficient of the matrix polymer, elastic constants of the matrix and fibers, and a known fiber volume fraction of the composite. The method was validated using finite element analysis. Good agreement was obtained and is reported between experimental hygroscopic swelling data, analytical and numerical results for composite laminates, indicating the validity of this predictive approach.


2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iman Eslami Afrooz ◽  
Andreas Öchsner

Finite element analysis has been employed to investigate the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) distribution on the thermal conductivity of composite materials. Several kinds of representative volume elements (RVEs) employed in this study are made by assuming that unidirectional CNTs are randomly distributed in a polymer matrix. It is also assumed that each set of RVEs contains a constant fiber volume fraction and aspect ratio. Results show that randomness—the way in which fibers are distributed inside the matrix—has a significant effect on the thermal conductivity of CNT composites. Results of this study were compared using the analytical Xue and Nan model and good agreement was observed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 750-752 ◽  
pp. 24-27
Author(s):  
Yan Ru Li ◽  
Zhong Qing Cheng ◽  
Hai Bo Jiang

The internal stress calculation of continuous fiber reinforced composites under transverse loads is a complex problem. This paper established a stress calculation model based on "equal strain method", which greatly simplify the formula derivation. Three internal stress formulas under the transverse loads were derived based on the model. The first is the fiber stress formula, which shows that the ratio of fiber stress to load gradually decreases with increasing of fiber volume fraction. The second is the matrix stress formula, which shows the ratio of matrix stress to load gradually increases with increasing of fiber volume fraction. The third is the formula of average shear stress at the interface of fiber and matrix, which curve shows there is a maximum value of interfacial shear stress. The three formulas have important role for checking intensity.


2013 ◽  
Vol 745-746 ◽  
pp. 582-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Bao Hu ◽  
Shao Ming Dong ◽  
Xiang Yu Zhang ◽  
Zhen Wang ◽  
Hai Jun Zhou ◽  
...  

Cf/SiC composites were fabricated through in situ growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on three-dimensional needle-punched carbon fabric via chemical vapor deposition and polymer impregnation and pyrolysis process. The mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were investigated. The flexural strength and fracture toughness were decreased due to the fiber volume fraction loss and much shorter pull-out length of fibers which was caused by the higher interfacial bonding strength between fiber and matrix after the growth of CNTs. Brittle fracture character of CNTs was observed due to the strong interfacial bonding strength between CNTs and matrix. The parallel thermal conductivity and perpendicular thermal conductivity were improved to 14.5% and 8.0% respectively.


Author(s):  
Jessica N. McClay ◽  
Peter Joyce ◽  
Andrew N. Smith

Measurements of the in-plane thermal conductivity and the directional dependence of Mitsubishi K63B12 pitch-fiber/Epoxy composite from Newport Composites are reported. This composite is being explored for use in the Avanced Seal Delivery System for effective thermal management. The thermal conductivity was measured using a steady state technique. The experimental results were then compared to a model of the thermal conductivity based on the direction of the fibers. These estimates are based on the properties of the constituent materials and volume of fibers in the sample. Therefore the density and the fiber volume fraction were experimentally measured. The thermal conductivity is clearly greatest in the direction of the fibers and decreases as the fibers are rotated off axis. In the case of pitch fiber composite materials, the contribution of the fibers to the thermal conductivity dominates. The experimental data clearly followed the correct trends; however, the measured values were 25% to 35% lower than predicted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-284
Author(s):  
X. Ma ◽  
B. Zhou ◽  
S. F. Xue

ABSTRACTIn this paper, a novel continuous fiber reinforced piezoelectric composite (CFRPC) actuator is proposed to improve the stability and reliability of piezoelectric actuators. A piezoelectric driving structure composed of a cantilever beam and the CFRPC actuator is utilized to research the actuation performance of the CFRPC actuator. The expression of the equivalent moment for the CFRPC actuator is obtained using the equivalent load method and electro-mechanical coupling theory. Based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, the analytical expression of the deflection for the cantilever beam is derived. The accuracy of the obtained analytical expressions is demonstrated by finite element simulation as well as published experimental results. The actuation performance of the CFRPC actuator is investigated through the analytical expressions of the equivalent moment and deflection. The results show that the key parameters such as driving voltage, fiber volume fraction, cantilever beam height, actuator height, actuator length and actuator position have great influence on the actuation performance of the CFRPC actuator. The CFRPC actuator has good mechanical and electrical properties, and has a wide application prospect in the field of structural shape control.


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