Numerical Simulation of Thermal Conductivity of Graphene Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites

Abstract

Abstract In order to develop materials with high thermal conductivity, aluminum matrix composites are attracting much attention. The heat transfer ability of graphene-reinforced aluminum matrix composites was numerically simulated with the finite element method. A composite model of 3D many-particle stochastic distributions is developed. The effect of temperature, volume fraction of graphene, graphene shapes and graphene orientation heat transfer capacity of composite materials was researched. Studies have shown that that the graphene volume fraction, graphene shapes and graphene orientation were significant factors for the heat transfer of the composites. As the graphene content increases, the temperature transfer capacity of the composite increases. The disc-shaped graphene with an orientation angle of 45° in composites can obtain an enhancement in the heat transfer ability of the composites.