Network model for thermal conductivities of unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites

Abstract

An empirical network model has been developed to predict the in-plane thermal conductivities along arbitrary directions for unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites lamina. Measurements of thermal conductivities along different orientations were carried out. Good agreement was observed between values predicted by the network model and the experimental data; compared with the established analytical models, the newly proposed network model could give values with higher precision. Therefore, this network model is helpful to get a wider and more comprehensive understanding of heat transmission characteristics of fiberreinforced composites and can be utilized as guidance to design and fabricate laminated composites with specific directional or specific locational thermal conductivities for structures that simultaneously perform mechanical and thermal functions, i.e. multifunctional structures (MFS).

Study on the effect of carbon fiber ply angle on thermal response of CFRP laminate based on the thermal resistance network model

“…As for the thermal‐electrical analogy technique type model, based on the thermo‐physical properties of different types and shapes of composite materials, an analytical expression for calculating the transverse thermal conductivity of unidirectional fiber composite materials can reveal the internal heat transfer mechanism of composite material structures 10 . Jiang et al 8,9 proposed a 2D square arrayed fiber model to calculate its effective transverse thermal conductivity based on the thermal resistance networks model, which was used to solve the heat transfer behavior in unidirectional and circular cross‐section fiber reinforced polymer composite. The thickness ratio 11 h = d 1 /d 2 was introduced into the thermal resistance model to make the model suitable for thick laminates.…”

“…Establishing an equivalent thermo‐physical parameter model of carbon fiber materials, which can greatly simplify the complex relationship between the effective thermal conductivity and the internal structure of the composite material, is the primary condition for exploring the micro heat transfer mechanism inside carbon fiber laminates and multi‐dimensional structures 6,7 . Considering the fact that CFRP is composed of two heterogeneous media, low‐thermal‐resistance carbon fiber and high‐thermal‐resistance matrix, a lot of equivalent thermal resistance models has been developed to analyze the heat transfer process of the CFRP 8–10 . Available equivalent thermal resistance models are generally based on the thermal‐electrical analogy technique 8,9 that equates the arrangement of fiber/matrix form to the series–parallel resistance form, and the microscopic simplified unit cell model that focuses on the thermal resistance of carbon fiber units as well as that of the fiber/matrix interface.…”

“…6,7 Considering the fact that CFRP is composed of two heterogeneous media, low-thermal-resistance carbon fiber and highthermal-resistance matrix, a lot of equivalent thermal resistance models has been developed to analyze the heat transfer process of the CFRP. [8][9][10] Available equivalent thermal resistance models are generally based on the thermal-electrical analogy technique 8,9 that equates the arrangement of fiber/matrix form to the series-parallel resistance form, and the microscopic simplified unit cell model that focuses on the thermal resistance of carbon fiber units as well as that of the fiber/matrix interface. As for the thermal-electrical analogy technique type model, based on the thermo-physical properties of different types and shapes of composite materials, an analytical expression for calculating the transverse thermal conductivity of unidirectional fiber composite materials can reveal the internal heat transfer mechanism of composite material structures.…”