Thermal-elastic behaviors of staggered composites

A theoretical model is developed to predict the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) and thermal mismatch stress of composites with staggered hard platelets in parallel alignment in a soft matrix. The theoretical predictions agree well with the Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations. The results show that different from sandwich composites, the effective CTEs of staggered composite can be tailored by adjusting the aspect ratio of reinforced platelets even with the same volume fraction, which makes the staggered composites more thermal-elastically compatible with the neighboring structures or materials. Moreover, the thermal mismatch stress in the two phases of staggered composite can be reduced through designing microstructure geometry parameters. The staggered composites therefore may have potential application in thermal protections.