Special Issue: 60th Anniversary of Aircraft Strength Research Institute of China

Multi-physics coupling modeling of laser ablation process of carbon fiber woven composites

  • Qingyi LIU ,
  • Xu YANG ,
  • Yu ZHANG ,
  • Peng YAN ,
  • Yanfei CHEN ,
  • Chuliang YAN
Expand
  • 1.Institute ot Unmanned System,Beihang University,Beijing 100191,China
    2.Beijing Institute of Structure and Environment Engineering,Beijing 100076,China
    3.School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering,Beihang University,Beijing 100083,China
    4.National Key Laboratory of Strength and Structural Integrity,Aircraft Strength Research Institute of China,Xi’an 710065,China
    5.Institute of Advanced Structure Technology,Beijing Institute of Technology,Beijing 100081,China

Received date: 2025-06-04

  Revised date: 2025-06-24

  Accepted date: 2025-07-28

  Online published: 2025-08-11

Supported by

Open Fund of National Key Laboratory of Strength and Structural Integrity(ASSIKFJJ202302002)

Abstract

A multi-physics coupling and multi-scale model is established to describe laser damage process of carbon fiber composites. The multi-physics coupling model includes three aspects: Thermal, mechanical and chemical model; the multi-scale model involves the micro-scale of fiber, resin and their chemical reaction products, the meso-scale of fiber yarn, matrix and interface layer, and the macro-scale of laminates. A multi-physics alternating coupling analysis process is established, and finite element method and numerical integration method are combined to solve the governing equations of the model. Taking the laser ablation experiment of a woven composite laminate with 5 plies as an example, the model predictions demonstrate good agreement with the experimental results for both the damage morphology of the laminate and the temperature rise history at the center of the back surface, validating the effectiveness of the model. Simulations of ablation effects in different gaseous environments indicate that higher oxygen concentrations in the ablation environment lead to more intense oxidation reactions of the carbon fibers and pyrolytic carbon residue, resulting in more significant damage to the composite material. Thus, to fully exploit the excellent high-temperature mechanical properties of carbon fibers, suppressing oxidation represents a viable approach for enhancing the laser damage resistance of carbon fiber composites. This model and solution method can effectively predict the material damage threshold under various laser irradiation parameters, facilitating in-depth research on the laser damage mechanisms of composite materials. It thereby provides a new theoretical analysis methodology for the laser-resistant protection design of aerospace structures.

Cite this article

Qingyi LIU , Xu YANG , Yu ZHANG , Peng YAN , Yanfei CHEN , Chuliang YAN . Multi-physics coupling modeling of laser ablation process of carbon fiber woven composites[J]. ACTA AERONAUTICAET ASTRONAUTICA SINICA, 2025 , 46(21) : 532372 -532372 . DOI: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2025.32372

References

[1] 赵天, 李营, 张超, 等. 高性能航空复合材料结构的关键力学问题研究进展[J]. 航空学报202243(6): 56-98.
  ZHAO T, LI Y, ZHANG C, et al. Fundamental mechanical problems in high-performance aerospace composite structures: State-of-art review[J]. Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica202243(6): 56-98 (in Chinese).
[2] 权晓伟, 杨晖. 美军高能激光武器毁伤试验研究[J]. 军民两用技术与产品2024(4): 53-59.
  QUAN X W, YANG H. Researc on U. S. military high-energy laser weapon damage test[J]. Dual Use Technologies & Products2024(4): 53-59 (in Chinese).
[3] 宋宏伟, 黄晨光. 激光辐照诱导的热与力学效应[J]. 力学进展201646(1): 435-477.
  SONG H W, HUANG C G. Progress in thermal-mechantical effects induced by laser[J]. Advances in Mechanics201646(1): 435-477 (in Chinese).
[4] ALLHEILY V, LACROIX F, EICHHORN A, et al. An experimental method to assess the thermo-mechanical damage of CFRP subjected to a highly energetic 1.07 μm-wavelength laser irradiation[J]. Composites Part B: Engineering201692: 326-331
[5] NIINO H, HARADA Y, FUJISAKII A. Thermal damage of carbon fiber reinforced plastic by IR fiber laser irradiation[J]. Journal of Laser Micro Nanoengineering201712(3): 235-238.
[6] 张家雷, 王伟平, 刘仓理. 激光辐照下二维编织碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的烧蚀特征[J]. 复合材料学报201734(3): 494-500.
  ZHANG J L, WANG W P, LIU C L. Ablation characteristics of 2D braided carbon fiber/epoxy composites under laser irradiation[J]. Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica201734(3): 494-500 (in Chinese).
[7] LIU Y C, WU C W, HUANG Y H, et al. Interlaminar damage of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite laminate under continuous wave laser irradiation[J]. Optics and Lasers in Engineering201788: 91-101.
[8] 熊刘结, 王家伟, 聂国华. 激光辐照下CFRP层合板的烧蚀与强度分析[J]. 力学季刊202243(4): 771-781.
  XIONG L J, WANG J W, NIE G H. Analysis of ablation and strength of CFRP laminated structures under laser irradiation[J]. Chinese Quarterly of Mechanics202243(4): 771-781 (in Chinese).
[9] 李伟, 方国东, 李玮洁, 等. 碳纤维增强复合材料微观烧蚀行为数值模拟[J]. 力学学报201951(3): 835-844.
  LI W, FANG G D, LI W J, et al. Numerical simulation of micro-ablation behavior for carbon fiber reinforced composites[J]. Chinese Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics201951(3): 835-844 (in Chinese).
[10] NAN P Y, SHEN Z H, HAN B, et al. The influences of laminated structure on the ablation characteristics of carbon fiber composites under CW laser irradiation[J]. Optics & Laser Technology2019116: 224-231.
[11] LI X, HOU W T, HAN B, et al. Thermal response during volumetric ablation of carbon fiber composites under a high intensity continuous laser irradiation[J]. Surfaces and Interfaces202123: 101032.
[12] DIMITRIENKO Y I. Thermomechanical behaviour of composites under local intense heating by irradiation[J]. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing200031(6): 591-598.
[13] ZHAO W N, MA T, SONG H W, et al. Effects of tangential supersonic airflow on the laser ablation of laminated CFRP[J]. Journal of Materials Research and Technology202114: 1985-1997.
[14] 李清源. 强激光对飞行器的毁伤效应[M]. 北京: 中国宇航出版社, 2012.
  LI Q Y. Damage effects of vehicles irradiated by intense lasers[M]. Beijing: China Astronautic Publishing House, 2012 (in Chinese).
[15] LOEB A L. Thermal conductivity: VIII, a theory of thermal conductivity of porous materials[J]. Journal of the American Ceramic Society195437(2): 96-99.
[16] CHAMIS C C. Simplified composite micromechanics equations of hygral, thermal, and mechanical properties[J]. Transactions of the Asae198439(3): 999-1004.
[17] HASHIN Z. Fatigue failure criteria for unidirectional fiber composites[J]. Journal of Applied Mechanics198147(2): 329-334.
[18] DAUDEVILLE L, ALLIX O, LADEVEZE P. Delamination analysis by damage mechanics: Some applications[J]. Composites Engineering19955(1): 17-24.
[19] LIANG H R, LI W J, LI Y, et al. Machine learning-based multi-objective optimization and physical-geometrical competitive mechanisms for 3D woven thermal protection composites[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer2024232: 125920.
[20] DONG K, LIU K, ZHANG Q, et al. Experimental and numerical analyses on the thermal conductive behaviors of carbon fiber/epoxy plain woven composites[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer2016102: 501-517.
[21] 李干. 激光辐照下纤维复合材料宏-细观效应的数值模拟研究[D]. 长沙: 国防科学技术大学, 2012.
  LI G. Numerical Research on the macro-mecro effect of laser irradiation to fibrous composites[D]. Changsha: National University of Defense Technology, 2010 (in Chinese).
[22] 王新峰. 机织复合材料多尺度渐进损伤研究[D]. 南京: 南京航空航天大学, 2007.
  WANG X F. Multi-scale analyses of damage evolution in woven composite materials[D]. Nanjing: Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2007 (in Chinese).
[23] NELSON J B. Determination of kinetic parameters of six ablation polymers by thermogravimetric analysis[M]. Washington: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1967.
[24] 颜淮. C/SiC复合材料微细观氧化损伤分析[D]. 哈尔滨: 哈尔滨工业大学, 2021.
  YAN H. Oxidation damage anaiysis of C/SiC composites on the microscpic scale[D]. Haibin: Harbin Institute of Technology, 2021 (in Chinese).
[25] 徐薇, 陈华. 不同海拔高度大气压和氧含压的变化与对比探讨[J]. 西藏科技2018(3): 59-61.
  XU W, CHEN H. Changes and comparison of atmospheric pressure and oxygen content at different altitudes[J]. Xizang Science and Technology2018(3): 59-61 (in Chinese).
Outlines

/