Thermal Conductivity Structure and Anisotropy of the Colossal Carbon Mesotubes

A model of a tube with a square cross-section was compiled for the mathematical analysis of the mesotube in Cartesian coordinates, with the selection of an element of a representative volume. To estimate the effective thermal conductivity of the structure, the generalized theory of conductivity with linearization of heat flux streamlines was used. The presence of anisotropy leads to the division of the problem into a separate estimate of the longitudinal and transverse thermal conductivity. The cross-section of the model was divided into elementary sections by a system of auxiliary adiabatic and isothermal planes, then the sections of the model were presented in the form of thermal resistances connected in chains - electrical circuits. Using the analogy of the identity of thermal and electrical resistances, the total conductivity of the sections and the effective thermal conductivity of the structure were determined. This methodology satisfies the test for limit transitions.

Characterization of applied tensile stress to carbon epoxy composites by measuring the variation of transverse thermal conductivity using transmission thermography

Using the method of step heating thermography, this study seeks to detect and characterize the existence of stress in a beam sample of carbon epoxy composite with the stacking sequence of [08] aided by empirical and simulation approaches. The applied stress in the longitudinal direction of sample, while considering the Poisson’s ratio, changes the lateral dimensions of sample. Furthermore, it is shown that the thermal conductivity along the sample thickness varies as a result of stress existence. Accordingly, to obtain a relation between transverse thermal conductivity and longitudinal tensile stress, one should calculate and eliminate the effect of lateral deformation caused by stress. To this end, by combining the experimental and simulation results of composite sample under the action of different tensile loads, an equation describing the variation of thermal conductivity along the sample thickness with respect to applied stress is developed. Using the relation of transverse thermal conductivity variation in terms of applied stress, the finite element modeling is again carried out by rectifying the values of thermal conductivity. Simulation results are compared with experimental ones, indicating very good agreement between the two approaches.

Transverse Thermal Conductivity of Epoxy Carbon Fiber Prepreg Laminates with a Graphite Filled Matrix

The thermal conductivity of carbon fiber reinforced polymers is crucial for new technologies and is used in cutting-edge technologies such as sensors, heated rollers and anti-icing of airplane wings. Researchers so far focused on coating conventional prepregs with thermally conductive materials to enhance the transversal conductivity. Another strategy is followed in this study: Thermally conductive matrices filled with graphite platelets were processed by a laboratory prepreg line. Laminates produced from this type of prepregs show an enhancement in thermal conductivity by 3.3 times with a 20 vol% filler content relative to the matrix, and a 55 vol% fiber volume content in the laminate. The research shows that the incorporation of conductive particles in the matrix is more effective for increasing the conductivity than previous methods.

Influence of Fiber Volume Content on Thermal Conductivity in Transverse and Fiber Direction of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Laminates

Thermal conductivity is an important material property for thermo-mechanical calculations, as mechanical properties strongly depend on the temperature and heat distribution in the manufactured parts. Although several suggestions for approximation formulae have been made, existing experimental data are rare and are not comparable due to different measurement methods. In addition, scarcely has the thermal conductivity in both the fiber direction and transverse direction been studied. The aim of the current research is to show the influence of carbon fiber volume content on the thermal conductivity of laminates. The values are then used to verify the micromechanical models used in the literature. A strong influence on the thermal conductivity could be determined. For the transverse thermal conductivity, the correlation was exponential; for the conductivity in the fiber direction, a linear correlation was found.

The Thermal Conductivities of Periodic Fibrous Composites as Defined by a Mathematical Model

In this paper, a geometric body-centered model to simulate the periodic structure of unidirectional fibrous composites is presented. To this end, three prescribed configurations are introduced to predict in a deterministic manner the arrangement of internal and neighboring fibers inside the matrix. Thus, three different representative volume elements (RVEs) are established. Furthermore, the concept of the interphase has been taken into account, stating that each individual fiber is encircled by a thin layer of variable thermomechanical properties. Next, these three unit cells are transformed in a unified manner to a coaxial multilayer cylinder model. This advanced model includes the influence of fiber contiguity in parallel with the interphase concept on the thermomechanical properties of the overall material. Then, by the use of this model, the authors propose explicit expressions to evaluate the longitudinal and transverse thermal conductivity of this type of composite. The theoretical predictions were compared with experimental results, as well as with theoretical values yielded by some reliable formulae derived from other workers, and a reasonable agreement was found.