Cryogenic Cycling Behavior of Polymeric Composite Materials

摘要

The basis of this research was an exploration of the fundamental phenomena that determine the response of fiber-reinforced composite materials to thermal cycling between cryogenic and ambient temperatures. This analysis began with a phenomenological approach that investigated the role of the processing, structure, and properties of composite materials on their behavior at cryogenic temperatures. The components of a composite material, the fibers and the matrix, were investigated along with the interaction between the fibers and the matrix to determine the effects of composite structure and properties on performance. In addition, processing and thermal ramp rate effects on internal stresses were also investigated. This approach provided an understanding of which variables influence composite behavior at cryogenic temperatures. Once this knowledge base had been established it could be extended to predict and model the performance of composite materials and develop design procedures to produce composite materials with optimized performance. Overall, this work investigated the performance of composite materials at cryogenic temperatures through a phenomenological and theoretical approach that established a fundamental understanding of the science and engineering of composite materials.