Study Of Electric-thermal Characteristics For Resin-based Carbon Fiber Single Plate

The electro-thermal coupling effect in single plate of carbon fiber polymer matrix composite is studied. Some means are used to establish a equivalent resistance network of a RVE(representative volume element) of the plain weave carbon fiber polymer matrix composite. The random distribution of the equivalent resistance value under a different current direction([warp], [45]) and different current densities(less than 2A) are obtained.The ABAQUS finite element software is used to establish a simplified fabric-resin composite model, and the temperature fields and stress fields in the RVE are calculated by using the direct electric-thermal coupling,electric-thermo-mechanical coupling functions.Finally, the fabric single plate samples are prepared and electrified by using a laboratory electric load test platform. The surface temperature of the sample are measured under different current direction([warp], [45]) and different current density(less than 2A).The main conclusions are:1. The temperature field of finite element model is uneven, which is reflected in temperature difference between different carbon fiber bundles, between carbon fiber bundle and resin. The bundle and resin contact interface has higher temperatures. 45 degree direction of current causes a different temperature distribution. The temperature value and high temperature field are different. These indicate that the impact of current direction is important.2. The stress field is also uneven because of the distribution of the temperature.The stress of contact area between bundle and resin is greater than elsewhere, because the thermal expansion coefficient between bundle and resin are quite different along the fiber direction which generates stress at the interface.3. The surface temperature of the fiber bundle increases rapidly, then it reaches a steady state, the larger the current is applied, the greater the heating rate to reach steady state.4. The test results of the warp and weft overlapped sample show that the steady-state temperature at the node(warp and weft overlapped area) increases as the current load density increases, and varies approximately linearly.The finite element model can be used to predict the temperature and stress values,as the simulation temperature field and the test resulting are similar enough.