Abstract
The thermal residual microstresses generated during the processing of unidirectional carbon fibre/epoxy resin composites are predicted, assuming regular fibre arrays. Stresses are determined in unit cells covering a range of fibre coordinations, fibre diameters, minimum interfibre distances and fibre volume fractions. The method of calculation involves the finite element method. Elastic material behaviour with temperature-dependent epoxy resin properties are assumed, together with transversely isotropic carbon fibres. Of the parameters studied, the greatest effect on the maximum principal stress was produced by the minimum thickness of epoxy resin between the fibres and the ratio of this thickness to the fibre radius. Values of the maximum principal stress were found in some cases to exceed the tensile strength of the epoxy resin. However, there was little experimental evidence to support this prediction. Cracks occurred only to a limited extent and occurred around the fibre/epoxy interface, rather than between the fibres, as predicted by the model. Reasons suggested for this discrepancy include relatively weak fibre/epoxy resin bonds and limitations on the accuracy of the stress generation model. Methods by which the model may be improved are discussed.
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