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Development of a Model for Predicting the Transverse Coefficients of Thermal Expansion of Unidirectional Carbon Fibre Reinforced Composites

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Abstract

A model for predicting the transverse coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) for carbon fibre composites is presented in this paper. The transverse CTE were calculated by finite element analysis using a representative unit cell. The analytical micromechanical models from literature were reviewed by comparing with the FEA data. It shows that overall Hashin model provides the best accuracy. However, the calculating process of Hashin model is very complicated and inconvenient for practical applications. By using FEA, Design of Experiments (DOE), and Response Surface Method (RSM), the transverse CTE of unidirectional carbon fibre composites were studied and a regression-based model was developed. The model was validated against the FEA and experimental data. It shows that the developed model offers excellent accuracy while reduces complicated computation process. The advantage of this model is that it provides a simple and accurate method for predicting the transverse CTE of composites, which helps effective and efficient design of composite structures.

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Abbreviations

α 11 :

Longitudinal CTE of composite

α 22 :

Transverse CTE of composite

α fL :

Longitudinal CTE of fibre

α fT :

Transverse CTE of fibre

α m :

CTE of matrix

E 11 :

Longitudinal modulus of composite

E 22 :

Transverse modulus of composite

E fL :

Longitudinal modulus of fibre

E fT :

Transverse modulus of fibre

E m :

Modulus of matrix

G f :

Longitudinal–transverse shear modulus of fibre

G fTT :

Transverse–transverse shear modulus of fibre

G m :

Shear modulus of matrix

ν 12 :

Longitudinal–transverse Poisson’s ratio of composite

ν f :

Longitudinal–transverse Poisson’s ratio of fibre

ν fTT :

Transverse–transverse Poisson’s ratio of fibre

ν m :

Poisson ratio of matrix

V f :

Fibre volume fraction

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Acknowledgement

The author is supported by the Curtin Research Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia

    Chensong Dong

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  1. Chensong Dong
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Correspondence to Chensong Dong.

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Dong, C. Development of a Model for Predicting the Transverse Coefficients of Thermal Expansion of Unidirectional Carbon Fibre Reinforced Composites. Appl Compos Mater 15, 171–182 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-008-9065-3

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