Thermal Response of Graphite Epoxy Composite Subjected to Rapid Heating

A one-dimensional finite difference analysis describing the transient ther mal response of fiber-reinforced organic matrix composte plates subjected to intense surface heating is presented. The effects of fiber ablation, matrix decomposition, and radiation and convective heat losses are included in the formulation. Numerical results are in good agreement with mass loss and thermocouple mesurements obtained from laser irradiation tests on AS/3501-6 graphite epoxy coupons. A steady state analytic solution is also given which provides a reasonable estimate of the surface recession rate over much of the surface irradiation period.