Thermomechanics of composites under high temperatures. Transl. from the Russian manuscript by Irina D. Dimitrienko (Q1305510)

This book is essentially concerned with a systematized mathematical modelling of the thermomechanical behavior of composite materials, taking into account internal physico-chemical transformations at high temperatures. It consists of twelve main chapters with sixty-six sections, an appendix, and a list of references. The book is organized as follows. Chapter 1 introduces the main types of high temperature effects and the volumetric and surface (linear) ablation (i.e., the irreversible loss of mass) processes in composite materials and also, a physical model of ablative composites. Chapter 2 makes the reader familiar with the general equations of multiphase continuum mechanics applicable to ablative composites. Chapter 3 describes averaging method for internal thermal and mechanical processes of composites under ablation conditions. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 present respectively the mathematical models and the method of calculation in the micromechanics of non-reinforced isotropic ablattive matrices, fibers used for reinforcing ablatice matrices, and unidirectional composites under high temperatures, including their effective mechanical, thermal and strength properties. Chapter 7 deals with the thermomechanical analysis of textile ablative composite materials, and chapter 8 with that of composites reinforced by dispersed particles. Chapter 9-12 take up mathematical modelling of composite structures under the gradient heating. Chapter 9 describes the phenomena in ablattice composite structures caused by gradient heating, and also presents some specific one- and two-dimensional problems. Chapter 10 considers the methods of calculation for the rate of different types of surface ablation (i.e., combustion, sublimation, melting and thermomechanical erosion of composites). Chapter 11 considers the thermal stresses in composite structures under several types of high heating (i.e., aerodynamical, gas-dynamical and local technological heatings). Lastly, chapter 12 deals with the mechanics of composite thin-walled ablative shells under high temperatures. In appendix, a brief description of experimental methods is presented for the determination of composite material properties under high temperatures. In closing, the topic of the book is of great importance for the design of thermal protective composite structures used in re-entry vehicles, rocket fairings, rocket engines and alike. Some structural methods are presented in predicting the thermomechanical behavior of composites at high temperatures. The effective mechanical and thermal properties of matrices, fibres, unidirectional, disperse-particles reinforced and textile composites are given in terms of their constituent phases. Almost all computed results on composites are compared with the corresponding experimental data a high temperatures. With its highly important topic, structural methods and experimental data, the book seems to be the first one available in the thermomechanics of composite materials under not normal or elevated but high temperatures up to \(2000^\circ\text{C}\). This timely research book will be of interest to postgraduate students, researchers and engineers designing composite structures and developing advance performance thermostable materials, and it will certainly stimulate further research in the area of composite materials under high temperatures.