Semi-Analytical Method for Computing Effective Thermoelastic Properties in Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials

Abstract

Effective elastic and thermal properties for isotropic or transversely isotropic thermoelastic fibrous composite materials are obtained. Fibers are distributed with the same periodicity along the two perpendicular directions to the fiber orientation. The periodic cell of the composite has a square or hexagonal distribution. Perfect contact between the fiber and the matrix is presented. The effective properties are calculated using a semi-analytical method. The semi-analytical method consists of obtaining the differential equations that describe the local problems using the Asymptotic Homogenization Method. Then, these equations are solved using the Finite Element Method. Effective elastic coefficient (C¯), effective thermal expansion coefficient (α¯) and the effective thermal conductivity (κ¯) are obtained. The numerical results are compared with the semi-analytical solution and with results reported by other authors. Additionally, the effective properties for a fiber with an elliptical cross section are calculated. Distributions of the fiber’s cross section with different orientations are also studied. A MATLAB program for computing the effective coefficients is presented.