TY - JOUR
T1 - A bidirectional zero thermal expansion design method for carbon fiber composite structures
AU - Li, Huimin
AU - Zhang, Xinlong
AU - Liu, Xin
AU - Teng, Shengpeng
AU - Chen, Xianglin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 Elsevier Ltd.
PY - 2026/6/16
Y1 - 2026/6/16
N2 - The invariance of structural dimensions during temperature changes is crucial for high-precision optical platforms, aerospace equipment , and metrological components. The adjustability of the effective coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of traditional composite laminates is limited, and the existing concepts of zero thermal expansion (ZTE) are often constrained to one direction or dependent on porous mechanisms that reduce structural stiffness. This work presents a deterministic design method for bidirectional zero thermal expansion composite structures using a single material without introducing flexible hinges. The structure consists of a lower laminate and an upper laminate, forming a thermal-induced bending compensation mechanism. A combined thermal-moment model is established to characterize the coupling between axial strain, in-plane thermal mismatch, and layer-level bending. Analytical expressions for the effective CTE in the both principal directions are derived, enabling the identification of parameter ranges that simultaneously satisfy the ZTE constraints. The optimized design structure is evaluated using three-dimensional finite element simulation, and the predicted CTE is consistent with the theoretical results. In addition, the optimized structure is prepared using hot press molding process, and the bidirectional compensation mechanism is verified by measuring the thermal deformation between 20 °C and 200 °C. The proposed approach provides a fully manufacturable route to achieve bidirectional ZTE composite structures suitable for high thermal stability engineering applications.
AB - The invariance of structural dimensions during temperature changes is crucial for high-precision optical platforms, aerospace equipment , and metrological components. The adjustability of the effective coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of traditional composite laminates is limited, and the existing concepts of zero thermal expansion (ZTE) are often constrained to one direction or dependent on porous mechanisms that reduce structural stiffness. This work presents a deterministic design method for bidirectional zero thermal expansion composite structures using a single material without introducing flexible hinges. The structure consists of a lower laminate and an upper laminate, forming a thermal-induced bending compensation mechanism. A combined thermal-moment model is established to characterize the coupling between axial strain, in-plane thermal mismatch, and layer-level bending. Analytical expressions for the effective CTE in the both principal directions are derived, enabling the identification of parameter ranges that simultaneously satisfy the ZTE constraints. The optimized design structure is evaluated using three-dimensional finite element simulation, and the predicted CTE is consistent with the theoretical results. In addition, the optimized structure is prepared using hot press molding process, and the bidirectional compensation mechanism is verified by measuring the thermal deformation between 20 °C and 200 °C. The proposed approach provides a fully manufacturable route to achieve bidirectional ZTE composite structures suitable for high thermal stability engineering applications.
KW - Carbon fiber reinforced polymer
KW - Coefficient of thermal expansion
KW - Composite structures
KW - Design method
KW - Zero thermal expansion
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105033616376
U2 - 10.1016/j.compscitech.2026.111619
DO - 10.1016/j.compscitech.2026.111619
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105033616376
SN - 0266-3538
VL - 280
JO - Composites Science and Technology
JF - Composites Science and Technology
M1 - 111619
ER -