Composite Structures

The primary objective of this book is to bridge this gap by presenting the concepts in composites in an integrated and balanced manner and expose the reader to the total gamut of activities involved in composite product development. It includes the complete know-how for development of a composite product including its design & analysis, manufacture and characterization, and testing.The book has fourteen chapters that are divided into two parts with part one describing mechanics, analytical methods in composites and basic finite element procedure, and the second part illustratesr materials, manufacturing methods, destructive and non-destructive tests and design.

Presents the latest strategies in the development and use of composite materials for large structures and the effects of defects Practical Design and Validation of Composites Structures: Effects of Defects offers an important guide to the use of fiber-reinforced composites and how they affect the durability and safety of engineering structures such as aircraft, ships, bridges, wind turbines as well as sporting equipment. The text draws on the authors’ direct experience in industry and academia to cover the most recent strategies in the development of composite structures and uniquely integrates the assessment of the effects of defects introduced during production. This comprehensive resource builds on an essential introduction to the characteristics of composites and the most common types of defects encountered in production. The authors review the recent manufacturing methods and technologies used for inspecting composite structures and the design issues related to an analysis of their failure and strength incorporating the variability of processing. The text also contains information on the latest regulatory requirements and the relevant standards associated with the testing and design within a robust design philosophy and approach. This important resource: Offers a comprehensive review of the most current regulatory developments in the use of composites for the construction of complex composite structures Presents information on the basic characteristics of composites Includes testing strategies for determining the impacts of production defects Reviews the most current manufacturing methods and inspection technologies in the field Contains methods for statistical analysis and processing of experimental effects of defects test data Written for professional engineers in mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, aerospace engineering, civil engineering, and energy engineering as well as industry and academic researchers, Practical Design and Validation of Composites Structures: Effects of Defects is the hands-on text that covers the essential information needed to understand the use of composites and how they affect complex engineering projects using composites.

An increase in the use of composite materials in areas of engineering has led to a greater demand for engineers versed in the design of structures made from such materials. This book offers students and engineers tools for designing practical composite structures. Among the topics of interest to the designer are stress-strain relationships for a wide range of anisotropic materials; bending, buckling, and vibration of plates; bending, torsion, buckling, and vibration of solid as well as thin walled beams; shells; hygrothermal stresses and strains; finite element formulation; and failure criteria. More than 300 illustrations, 50 fully worked problems, and material properties data sets are included. Some knowledge of composites, differential equations, and matrix algebra is helpful but not necessary, as the book is self-contained. Graduate students, researchers, and practitioners will value it for both theory and application.

Composites are used extensively in engineering applications. A constant concern is the effect of foreign object impacts on composite structures because significant damage can occur and yet be undetectable by visual inspection. Such impacts can range from the most ordinary at low velocity--a tool dropped on a product--to the hypervelocity impact of space debris on a spacecraft. This book explains how damage develops during impact, the effect of impact-induced damage on the mechanical behavior of structures, and methods of damage prediction and detection. Numerous examples are included to illustrate these topics. Written for graduate students, as well as researchers and practicing engineers working with composite materials, this book presents state-of-the-art knowledge on impact dynamics while requiring only basic understanding of the mechanics of composite materials.

While currently available texts dealing with the subject of high perfor mance composite materials touch upon a spectra of topics such as mechanical metallurgy, physical metallurgy, micromechanics and macro mechanics of such systems, it is the specific purpose of this text to examine elements of the mechanics of structural components composed of composite materials. This text is intended for use in training engineers in this new technology and rational thought processes necessary to develop a better understanding of the behavior of such material systems for use as structural components. The concepts are further exploited in terms of the structural format and development to which the book is dedicated. To this end the development progresses systematically by first introducing the notion and concepts of what these new material classes are, the fabrication processes involved and their unique features relative to conventional monolithic materials. Such introductory remarks, while far too short in texts of this type, appear necessary as a precursor for engineers to develop a better understanding for design purposes of both the threshold limits to which the properties of such systems can be pushed as well as the practical limitations on their manufacture. Following these introductory remarks, an in-depth discussion of the important differences between composites and conventional monolithic material types is discussed in terms of developing the concepts associated with directional material properties.

Design and Analysis of Composite Structures enables graduate students and engineers to generate meaningful and robust designs of complex composite structures. Combining analysis and design methods for structural components, the book begins with simple topics such as skins and stiffeners and progresses through to entire components of fuselages and wings. Starting with basic mathematical derivation followed by simplifications used in real-world design, Design and Analysis of Composite Structures presents the level of accuracy and range of applicability of each method. Examples taken from actual applications are worked out in detail to show how the concepts are applied, solving the same design problem with different methods based on different drivers (e.g. cost or weight) to show how the final configuration changes as the requirements and approach change. Provides a toolkit of analysis and design methods to most situations encountered in practice, as well as analytical frameworks and the means to solving them for tackling less frequent problems. Presents solutions applicable to optimization schemes without having to run finite element models at each iteration, speeding up the design process and allowing examination of several more alternatives than traditional approaches. Includes guidelines showing how decisions based on manufacturing considerations affect weight and how weight optimization may adversely affect the cost. Accompanied by a website at www.wiley.com/go/kassapoglou hosting lecture slides and solutions to the exercises for instructors.

Composite Structures extends the focus to all the entities that participate in the successful quest for safety and demonstrates how design, manufacturing, maintenance, (inspection), operation, and requirements (regulations) all are part of successful, safe innovation and necessary to assure safe flight through the life of the vehicle. It addresses the notion that safety is a function of time and that vigilant risk management is only successful if it includes all participating entities. It is a companion to the author's first volume, Composite Structure: Design, Safety and Innovation, published by Elsevier in June 2005. Eliminates an unacceptable 'gap' in the world of safety Represents a 'new' approach to designing, manufacturing, maintaining, operating and regulating composite airplane structures Written for professionals in the aerospace structural development arena whether in indusrty, academia or government

This book compiles techniques used to analyze composite structural elements ranging from beams through plates to stiffened shells. The content is suitable for graduate-level students with a basic background in mechanics of composite materials. Moreover, this book will be placed in an active spot on the bookshelves of composite structures designers as well as researchers.