Investigation and modelling of the heat transfer process in carbon fibre/epoxy composite tools.

摘要

This research was focused on the understanding and modelling of the transient conductive heat transfer process in carbon fibre/epoxy composite tools. Using a comparative test method, the transverse and in-plane thermal conductivities of the 2/2 twill eight-ply laminate used in this research were determined as 0.57 W/mK and 1.87 W/mK respectively. These values were applied to the analytical and numerical models investigated. No simple closed form analytical solution was found that could accurately represent the problem. The finite element analysis software MSC Nastran Thermal Preference was used to carry out the numerical analysis of the problem. The modelling carried out indicated that the temperature gradients across the model were most affected by the applied convection and by the in-plane to transverse thermal conductivity ratio. Comparing modelling and experimental results showed that MSC Nastran was not flexible enough to allow accurate heater response predictions for use in advanced design of complex integrally heated composite tools.