Abstract
The influence of variations in fiber and matrix constituent material properties on the moisture and thermal expansion coefficients of a unidirectional composite is demonstrated, using a finite element, inelastic micromechanics analysis. Three of the commonly utilized graphite/epoxy material systems are selected for detailed analysis, using available experimental values of the constituent material properties wherever possible. The epoxy matrix is assumed to be Hercules 3501-6 in all cases, a polymer which is fully representative of the various structural epoxies in current use. The three graphite fibers are Celanese GY-70, Hercules HMS, and Hercules AS, representative of high, medium, and low modulus graphite fibers, respectively.
The analysis includes the influences of fiber anisotropy, matrix inelasticity, temperature- and moisture-dependent matrix material properties, variations in matrix thermal expansion and moisture expansion coefficients, and fiber volume content. Results are presented for both longitudinal and transverse coefficients of thermal expansion as a function of temperature, and the corresponding coefficients of moisture expansion as a function of composite moisture weight gain.
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References
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© 1980 Plenum Press, New York
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Adams, D.F., Monib, M.M. (1980). Moisture Expansion and Thermal Expansion Coefficients of a Polymer-Matrix Composite Material. In: Lenoe, E.M., Oplinger, D.W., Burke, J.J. (eds) Fibrous Composites in Structural Design. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1033-4_49
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1033-4_49
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-1035-8
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