Measurement and Prediction of Effective Thermal Conductivity for Woven Fabric Composites

Abstract

The current paper deals with the measurement and prediction of thermal conductivities for plain weave fabric composites. An experimental apparatus was setup to measure the temperature gradients from which the thermal conductivities were obtained. The thermal conductivities were also calculated using finite element analyses for plain weave unit cell models and then compared with experimental results. In addition, the effect of a phase shift and the fiber volume fraction in the tow on the thermal conductivities was addressed.