TRANSVERSE CONDUCTIVITY IN NONIDEAL FIBER-COMPOSITE GEOMETRIES

An ideal fiber composite is defined as one with parallel circular fibers forming a regular array. We consider how the thermal conductivity transverse to the overall fiber direction is affected by departures from the ideal geometry, such as irregular stacking pattern, misalignment of fibers and unequal or non-circular cross sections. Illuminating examples are discussed, quantitatively and qualitatively. In particular, we derive an effective-medium result for slightly misaligned fibers. It is found that for fiber concentrations not close to a percolation threshold, the effect of non-ideal geometry is normally too small (< 1 % in many realistic examples) to be of any practical importance.ThermodynamicsEngineering, MechanicalMechanicsSCI(E)EI3ARTICLE164033-40383