Design of composite laminates with low thermal expansion

Abstract

A procedure for the design of structural elements made of carbon-epoxy laminates with low thermal expansion in the main direction has been developed. By using an interferometric technique, the influence of material characteristics and process parameters on the thermal expansion behaviour was assessed. In order to minimize the interval of uncertainty of the thermal expansion coefficient, using the lamination theory, a laminate with layers at 0° and 30° coupled with layers with an orientation chosen between 45° and 60° was proposed. Prototypes were constructed following a standard manufacturing process. Interferometric measurements were performed, showing that the proposed procedure permits a low thermal expansion with a reduced uncertainty to be achieved.