Microscopic damage behavior in carbon fiber reinforced plastic laminates for a high accuracy antenna in a satellite under cyclic thermal loading

Abstract

For a high accuracy antenna in next radio astronomy satellite, a candidate material is carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), because negative longitudinal coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for unidirectional CFRP enables a laminate with 0 CTE through appropriate laminate design. This enables high structural accuracy under large temperature fluctuation like space. On the other hand, when the laminate is subjected to thermal cycles, cyclic thermal stress occurs and causes microscopic damages. In this study, we characterized damage progress in CFRP laminates and resultant variation in mechanical properties under cyclic thermal loading. Three types of matrices, such as polycyanate ester, polyimide and epoxy resin were used to prepare CFRP laminates. Specimens were subjected to thermal cycles from −197°C to 120°C. The test was periodically stopped for surface observation and flexural loading. Transverse cracks in 90° plies accumulated with thermal cycles, whereas flexural modulus remained constant. We also numerically evaluated temperature gradient and resultant thermal stress distribution during cooling by finite element analysis. The result indicates higher transverse stress appeared in the surface of the specimen and saturated to constant value which corresponded with the value calculated based on classical lamination theory.