Characterization of thermal expansion in additively manufactured continuous carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites using fibre Bragg grating sensors

• Published in: Measurement : journal of the International Measurement Confederation Vol. 227; p. 114147
• Main Authors: Orlowska-Galezia, Anita, Graczykowski, Cezary, Pawlowski, Piotr, Rimašauskienė, Rūta, Rimašauskas, Marius, Kuncius, Tomas, Majewska, Katarzyna, Mieloszyk, Magdalena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.03.2024
• Subjects: Additive manufacturing; Continuous Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites; CTE; Fibre Bragg gratings; Multiscale modelling; Thermal expansion; Thermal expansion; Additive manufacturing; Continuous Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites; Fibre Bragg gratings; Multiscale modelling; CTE
• ISSN: 0263-2241; 1873-412X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2024.114147

[Display omitted] •This study focuses on the investigation of thermal strains in CCFRP samples.•The thermal strains in samples ware measured by fibre Bragg grating sensors.•Multiscale, analytical and FEM-based models of the samples were established.•Thermal expansion coefficient of the investigated material was evaluated.•FBG-based measurement scheme for CTE evaluation was discussed and proposed. This study investigates thermal strains in fibre reinforced polymeric samples manufactured using a modified Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) method. The investigated material was a composition of polylactic acid (PLA) resin and continuous carbon fibres. Each test sample was equipped with two Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, one embedded inside and the other bonded to the surface. Both sensors monitored temperature-induced deformations during the conditioning of the specimens in a thermal chamber. Multiscale, analytical and finite element method based models were implemented to quantify the temperature deformations. Research has revealed that in investigated samples, bending occurs due to thermal loading. This can result in an inaccurate estimation of the coefficient of thermal expansion when relying on surface deformation measurements. A proposed solution involves the use of one FBG sensor embedded inside the specimen or two FBG sensors placed symmetrically, capable of measuring axial thermal deformation and averaging the effects associated with bending.