Abstract:

In this paper the problem of modelling graded materials in the form of a fibre composite with varying fibre diameter is considered. The aim of modelling was to determine the micro and macroscopic thermal properties of this type of material, in which the average thermal conductivity in relation to fibre saturation changes was calculated at any point of fibre FGM, and then the effective thermal conductivity of a whole layer of the material was determined. To do that, a unit cell of the material of given structure was isolated and the onedimensional heat flux passing through it was considered. As an effect of the investigation, the procedure of effective thermal conductivities calculation was presented and illustrated with a numerical example. Additionally the discrete and continuous approach to the effective thermal conductivities calculations were analysed and compared.