Abstract
From the literature, it is found that two different criteria were followed for the prediction of transverse thermal conductivity (K2) of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) composites. In the first criterion, the internal anisotropy of the lamina is assumed negligible and K2 is estimated using simple Fourier’s law of 1-D heat conduction applied to representative volume element (RVE). Whereas in the second approach, an electrical analogy method is followed. To estimate the effect of internal anisotropy, through thickness thermal conductivity (K3) of an FRP lamina is determined by both the approaches through finite element method for an RVE in the auxiliary plane. The problem is modeled in ANSYS 15 software. In the present paper studies are made for various volume fractions (0.1-0.75) and for various angles (20°-90°) made by the section plane with the fiber axis. It is observed that the through thickness thermal conductivity is consistent in the second approach, whereas in the first approach there is considerable variation (max 8.7%) with the orientation of the unit cell.
Key words: Through thickness thermal conductivity, finite element method (FEM), unit cell orientation.
