Self-correcting, thermally stable bending element

Under a through-thickness temperature variation, thin structural elements such as beams, plates, and shells tend to bend. This bending deformation can distort a structure and cause thermal stresses. By construction of a suitable laminate, beams can be made 'self-correcting' so that they exhibit zero bending curvature under steady state heat transfer conditions. This effect is demonstrated for an aluminum/composite laminate. The sensitivity of the effect to variations in the thickness or properties is shown. The time scale to establish steady-state heat transfer is discussed. This laminate also demonstrates a reduced net axial thermal expansion when compared to a monolithic aluminum beam.