Prediction of anisotropic coefficient of thermal expansion for laminated composite using multiscale numerical models

Representative volume element (RVE) in lamina and laminate levels were build based on the arrays of fiber into resin and stacking sequences in laminated composites. In combination with the specified boundary conditions in RVE models, coefficient of thermal expansions (CTEs) and engineering constants for lamina were predicted, followed by an evaluation of anisotropic CTEs for laminate using multiscale method. The results show that numerically predicted CTEs match well with experimental data as compared to theoretically calculated value as a whole, especially for the numerically predicated CTEs of unidirectional T300/5208, P75/934 and C6000/Pi carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites with a difference of 3%, 1% and 2%, respectively. And the predicted engineering constants using RVE model for unidirectional ECR/Derakane 510C glass fiber reinforced vinyl ester resin matrix composites were also in good agreement with experimentally measured results, with a maximum difference of 7.5%. Meanwhile, the difference between experimental results and forecasted CTEs in through-thickness direction for cross-ply AS4/8552 carbon fiber reinforced resin matrix composites using RVE model of laminated composites is nearly negligible with a difference of 0.08%. Finally, the equivalent CTEs of laminated composite with different stacking sequences were estimated using RVE models of lamina and laminate levels for cross-ply composite structures in large large-scale structures, and the results reveal that CTEs in through-thickness direction are weakly related to the ratio of stacking sequences in hoop direction. © 2023 Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA). All rights reserved.