Prediction of Effective Transverse Thermal Conductivity of Boron Fiber-Reinforced Composites
Keywords:
FEM, Transverse conductivity, Composites, Unit cellAbstract
Applicability of the finite element model (FEM) in predicting the effective transverse thermal conductivity (k2) of the unidirectional fiber reinforced composites is systematically studied. A 3-D finite element model for the array of square unit cell of long circular cylinder with appropriate thermal boundary conditions is developed. FEM software ANSYS 10.0 is successfully executed and the effective transverse thermal conductivity is evaluated for various fiber volume fractions (Vf). The results are validated with the experimental and analytical results available in the literature and found to be quite coherent. The developed single model is found suitable in accurately predicting k2 at all values of Vf in the range and thus eliminate the complexity of developing different analytical expressions for different range of Vf. The methods such as analytical and 2-D FEM developed so far fails in accommodating fiber anisotropy, imperfections in matrix, fiber and fiber-matrix interface. The present model is capable of predicting k2 in all the above cases. Finally transverse effective thermal conductivity is evaluated for Boron composites with a range of matrix thermal conductivity values.
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References
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