Experimentally-validated computational model for temperature evolution within laser heated fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites

Comprehensive experimental and computational studies have been conducted to accurately measure and predict the temperature evolution of polymer matrix composite material subjected to laser heating. Plain-woven 16-ply composites with T650 carbon fibers in a bismaleimide matrix were irradiated with a continuous wave fiber laser (1.0692 mu m wavelength) with a 3.0 cm diameter flat-top beam profile. The spatial and temporal evolution of temperature for the front (laser-exposed side) and back (unexposed) surfaces of the composite specimens were monitored and recorded with calibrated infrared cameras. Additionally, internal temperature evolution was measured with thermocouples embedded in the midplane of the composite specimens. A nonlinear transient finite element (FE) analysis, based on conducive, convective, and radiative heat transfer, was conducted using ANSYS to predict the temperature history during heating (laser exposure) and cooling (after exposure). For all investigated laser irradiances (i.e., 0.71-1.95 W cm(-2)), the numerical prediction demonstrated excellent agreement with experimental data.