Thermal Expansion of a Composite Plate

This test lets you check the thermal expansion of a composite plate.

For this test, the reference is the mesh formed of linear hexahedron elements (HE8).
You will use 2D meshes.

Reference:

3D model with linear hexahedron elements (HE8), computed with CATIA.
 

Specifications

Geometry Specifications

Length:
L = 10 000 mm

Width:
b = 1 000 mm

Thickness:
h = 400 mm divided in two layers 

Analysis Specifications

First Layer:

  • Young Modulus (material):
    E = 200 GPa

  • Poisson's Ratio:
    ν = 0.266

  • Thermal Expansion Coefficient:
    α= 1.17 x 10-5/°

3D model (reference):

Second Layer:

  • Young Modulus (material):
    E = 200 GPa

  • Poisson's Ratio:
    ν = 0.266

  • Thermal Expansion Coefficient:
    α= 1.2 x 10-2/°

Property:
Imported Composite Property with Analysis by ply option

Mesh Specifications:

  • 10 x 2 elements for linear quadrangle (QD4) and parabolic quadrangle (QD8) elements

  • 10 x 2 x 1 elements for linear hexahedron elements (HE8)

2D model:

Restraints:
Clamp on one extremity

Loads: temperature field
T = 325 Kdeg

The environment temperature is T0 = 293.16 Kdeg
 

Results

The static analysis results correspond to the maximal displacement along the Z component (Tz).

 Quantity

Reference
Linear Hexahedron
(HE8)

Computed Results

 Linear Quadrangle
(QD4)

 Parabolic Quadrangle
(QD8)

Tz max [mm]

73306.6

73193.98

72677.97

Normalized results

1

0.9984

0.9914

To Perform the Test:

The CompositePlateThermoQD4.CATAnalysis document presents a complete analysis of this case, computed with a mesh formed of linear quadrangle elements (QD4).

The CompositePlateThermoHE8.CATAnalysis document presents a complete analysis of this case, computed with a mesh formed of linear hexahedron elements (HE8).

To compute the mesh with parabolic quadrangle elements (QD8), proceed as follow:

  1. Open the CompositePlateThermoQD4.CATAnalysis document.

  2. Enter the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench.

  3. In the specification tree, double-click the mesh part. The Global Parameters dialog box appears.

  4. Select Parabolic as element type.

  5. Compute the case in the Generative Structural Analysis workbench.