MEASUREMENTS FOR DETERMINING THE THERMAL-EXPANSION COEFFICIENT (CTE) OF LAMINATED ORTHOTROPIC RINGS

The thermal expansion coefficients of laminated rings are expected to be different from that of a flat plate or beam of the same laminate. The objective of this work is to characterize the thermal response of laminated orthotropic rings. From the measured thermal strains, the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of the laminated rings are determined. The tested rings are made of AS4/3501-6 composites and the lamination of the rings are [90]16T, [90/0/ +/- 45]2S and [90/ +/- 45]2S.