Predicting the thermal conductivity and temperature distribution in aligned fiber composites

A numerical model capable of calculating the effective thermal conductivity and temperature distribution in aligned fiber composites, where the ratio of the fiber to matrix conductivities is an order of magnitude greater than unity, was developed. To determine the validity of this model, an experimental investigation was conducted utilizing cylindrical samples whose fiber direction relative to the cylinder axis varied from Odeg to 90deg in 15deg increments. The temperatures, as predicted by the numerical model, were within five to eight percent of the experimentally measured values for all cases considered. Comparison of sample geometry and effective thermal conductivity indicated that the numerical model more accurately predicted the temperature distribution in samples whose fiber angle with respect to the cylinder axis was large and that accurate prediction of the edge effects, particularly in corner regions where these effects dominate, would require a three-dimensional numerical model.