An efficient method for thermal analysis of composites containing anisotropic continuous fibers and an arbitrary number of interfacial layers

Based on the existing composite cylinder model, the analysis of anisotropic fiber-reinforced composites comprising an arbitrary number of interfacial layers is transformed into that of a cylindrical assemblage consisting of multiple coaxial circular cylinders. Analytical expressions of the deformations and stresses in the cylindrical assemblage are introduced. A recursive formula is obtained from the continuity conditions of the deformations and stresses at the interfaces between two adjacent constituents. Its repeated application leads to direct determination of all unknown constants in the analytical expressions. With the proposed method, how the material properties of the fiber, matrix and interfacial layers affect the thermal stresses in composites reinforced with radially orthotropic, circumferentially orthotropic and transversely isotropic fibers is investigated. The material properties of the fiber have a weak effect on the stresses in the matrix, and those of the matrix can obviously change the stresses in all the constituents of the composites. Reducing the mismatch of material properties of interfacial layers can greatly decrease the stress differences between these constituents.