Abstract: Abstract Composites are steadily replacing metals in weight-critical space structures primarily because of their high specific moduli. Many space structures require not only high stiffness but precision alignment and dimensional stability as well. These parameters are sensitive to thermal strains caused by the mismatch in coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of the constituents, anisotropy in ply CTE, and variations in service temperature. The CTE of a laminate can change in service as a result of mechanically or thermally induced microcrack...
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Topics: 
Composite material