Thermal Stress Distribution in CF/EP Composite in Low Earth Orbit

Abstract

Thermal cycle in low earth orbit environment has a negative influence on thermal stress distribution in carbon fiber/epoxy (CF/EP) composite. In our experiment a 3D finite element analysis method was used to analyze thermal stress distribution and failure mechanism in CF/EP composite. Thermal stress distribution was characterized using Von Mises stress, composite potential failure zone was analyzed using parabolic failure criterion, and composite micro-cracking distribution was studied using birth and death technique. Results indicated that thermal stress at different parts of the composite are different: at composite free end zone, the maximum thermal stress 179.9 MPa located at fiber surface with the longest distance between two fibers; while in composite inner zone, the maximum thermal stress is 29.5 MPa located in EP matrix with the shortest distance between two fibers. Thermal stress concentration at composite free end zone induces micro-cracking between fiber and the matrix, besides as thermal cycle increase micro-cracking progress from composite free end zone to composite inner zone, which will degrade the mechanical performance.

Keywords

thermal stress composite low earth orbit finite element analysis method.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Kobayashi, S. , Terada, K. and Takeda, N. (2003). Evaluation of Long-term Durability in High Temperature Resistant CFRP Laminates Under Thermal Fatigue Loading, Composites B, 34: 753-759.

Shi, K.-B. , Kim, C.-G. and Hong, C.-S. (2003). Prediction of Failure Thermal Cycles in Graphite/ Epoxy Composite Materials Under Simulated Low Earth Orbit Environments, Composites B, 31: 223-235.

Nairn, J.A. ( 1992) Microcracking, Microcrack-induced Delamination, and Longitudinal Splitting of Advanced Composite Structure, In: NASA Contractor Report 4472: National Aeronautics and Space Administration , washington, DC.

Liu, S. and Nairn, J.A. ( 1990). Fracture Mechanics Analysis of Composite Microcracking: Experimental Results in Fatigue, In: Proceedings of Fifth Technology Conference on Composite Materials, East Lansing, Michigan, 11-14 June, pp. 287-295.

McManus, H.L. , Bowles, D.E. and Tompkins, S.S. (1996). Prediction of Thermal Cycling Induced Matrix Cracking, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 15: 124-140.

McManus, H.L. and Maddocks, J.R. (1995). On Microcracking in Composite Laminates Under Thermal and Mechanical Loading, Polymer and Polymer Composites, 4: 305-314.

Qusen, Z. ( 2003). Advanced Composite Manual, Mechanical Industry Press, Beijing.

Tsai, J.L. and Chi, Y.K. ( 2008). Investigating Thermal Residual Stress Effect on Mechanical Behaviors of Fiber Composites with Different Fiber Arrays, Composites Part B, 39: 714-721.

Lu, C. , Chen, P. and Yu, Q. ( 2008). Thermal Residual Stress Distribution in Carbon Fiber/ Novel Thermal Plastic Composite, Applied Composite Materials , 15: 157-169.

10.

Lu, C. , Chen, P. and Yu, B. ( 2007). Computer Simulation of Thermal Residual Stress of Carbon Fiber/PPESK Composite, Advanced Composites Letters, 16: 33-37.

11.

Tchoegl, N.W. (1971). Failure Surfaces in Principal Stress Spaces, Journal of Polymer Science Part C: Polymer Symposia, 32: 239-267.

12.

Theocaris, P.S. and Philippidis, T.P. (1987). The Paraboloidal Failure Surface of Initially Anisotropic Elastic Solids, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 6: 378-395.

13.

Shaobo, X. ( 1999). Carbon Fiber and Carbon Fiber Composites Application on Satellites, Hi-Tech Fiber & Application, 24: 1-7.