Model for predicting effective thermal conductivity of composites with aligned continuous fibers of graded conductivity

Governing differential equations in both transverse and longitudinal directions for predicting the effective thermal conductivities of composites with aligned, graded continuous fibers are derived. It is shown that the effective conductivities of composites with graded fibers are predicted by solving the equations. The results by the present approach are applicable to both dilute and non-dilute cases without additional procedures unlike other approaches. The results are compared with those in the literature, and the applicability of the present approach is justified. A solution by the present approach is obtained analytically or numerically as long as thermal conductivity profile of fibers is given.