Effective thermal conductivity of random two-phase composites

Abstract

This work aims to establish a new three-dimensional method for automatically generating three-dimensional FEM models of two-phase composite materials with complex materials arrangement for the purpose of effective thermal conductivity (ETC) evaluation. Tests were carried out in which the shape, spatial distribution, thermal contact resistance and particles volume fraction were taken into account. Thermal conductivity ratio between both component materials was also varied. The aim of the work was to examine how each variable influences the ETC of the composite material. ETC was calculated numerically using COMSOL™ software and a 3D-representative volume element (3D-RVE) was employed to represent the composite material. The results were analysed and compared to various analytical models and experimental data reported in the literature.