Prediction of elastic properties of unidirectional carbon/carbon composites using analytical and numerical homogenisation methods

Abstract

ABSTRACT Carbon/carbon composites are being used increasingly in the field of Space, Aviation; Air craft breaks discs, High temperature applications. They can withstand a very high temperature up to 3315°C. They have distinct advantage of strength over graphite fibre. They are lighter to graphite fibres. Elastic properties of the carbon/carbon composites are important for design considerations. They can be evaluated through analytical, numerical or experimental methods. Experimental methods are expensive and are not feasible to be performed at the design stage. Analytical methods are complex and difficult to implement. Numerical methods through Finite Element Modelling (FEM) are useful tools for evaluation of elastic properties of composite materials. The present work is aimed at review and comparison of various analytical models and numerical finite model for evaluation of elastic properties. The elastic properties of unidirectional carbon/carbon composites are evaluated using analytical models and numerical finite element model using ABAQUS with EasyPBC plugin. Elastic modulus in longitudinal and transverse direction show good agreement in all methods. Major Poisson’s ratio and transverse Young’s modulus are also in agreement. Longitudinal shear modulus obtained by rule of mixtures is on lower side while that obtained by other models are on higher side when compared to numerical model.