NUMERICAL EVALUATION OF THERMAL STRESSES GENERATED IN LAMINATED COMPOSITE STRUCTURE EXPOSED TO LOW TEMPERATURES.

This paper presents numerical calculation of thermal stresses generated in a carbon fiber-epoxy laminated composite structure which is operating at low temperatures. The thermal stress evaluation is based on the finite element method. A sample problem involving generated thermal stresses in a real laminated composite structure, exposed to low temperatures (four different temperature levels), is analyzed and discussed. Obtained results suggest that these thermal stresses remarkably decrease the strength of the laminated composite structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]