Multiscale modeling of the thermoelastic behavior of braided fabric composites for cryogenic structures

A multiscale analysis is performed to estimate the thermomechanical behavior of a column-type support post used in particle accelerators to sustain cryomagnets. First, the effective thermoelastic properties of a unidirectional composite material are computed for temperatures ranging between 1.9 and 293 K using a periodic homogenization method. Next, computed curves are used to model the thermoelastic behavior of a global representative volume element of the braided fabric composite. Finally, the thermoelastic behavior of the support in real working conditions is estimated using results previously obtained. For both unidirectional composite and braided fabric composite, a good agreement is obtained between estimated and measured values at several temperatures.