Analytical prediction of thermal stresses in composite shells

Abstract

The use of fibre-reinforced plastics or FRPs in various industries, such as aviation, automobiles, renewable energy, etc. has drastically increased over the past decades, owing to the significant strength to weight ratios they offer. The design phase of such components must also factor in thermal loads. Thermal expansions and contractions, when restricted, lead to the buildup of stresses in a material. The distribution of these stresses across the layers of a composite tube has been dealt with here with the help of an analytical study, taking into account any radially varying user-defined temperature profile. On account of geometry, the cases handled are axisymmetric and therefore, shear stresses aren’t considered.