Fibrous Composites In Structural Design

The Fourth Conference on Fibrous Composites in Structural Design was a successor to the First-to-Third Conferences on Fibrous Composites in Flight Vehicle Design sponsored by the Air Force (First and Second Conferences, September 1973 and May 1974) and by NASA (Third Conference, November 1975) which were aimed at focusing national attention on flight vehicle applications of a new class of fiber reinforced materials, the advanced com posites, which afforded weight savings and other advantages which had not been previously available. The Fourth Conference, held at San Diego, California, 14-17 November 1978, was the fi rst of these conferences to be jointly sponsored by the Army, Navy and Ai r Force together with NASA, as well as being the first to give attention to non-aerospace applications of fiber reinforced composites. While the design technology for aerospace applications has reached a state of relative maturity, other areas of application such as mi litary bridging, flywheel energy storage systems, ship and surface vessel components and ground vehicle components are in an early stage of development, and it was an important objective to pinpoint where careful attention to structural design was needed in such applications to achfeve maximum structural performance payoff together with a high level of reliability and attractive economics.

Composite Materials, Volume 8: Structural Design and Analysis, Part II covers the methods of structural design and analysis. The book discusses the discrete element analysis of composite structures; the concepts of probabilistic design and reliability as it pertains to composites; and the experimental methods for characterizing composites and composite components. The text also describes the state-of-the-art of the analysis of discontinuities, edge effects, and joints in composites; as well as the methodology for designing composite structural components. Materials scientists, materials engineers, and researchers of fiber composites will find the book invaluable.

Advanced Fibre-reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites for Structural Applications, Second Edition provides updates on new research that has been carried out on the use of FRP composites for structural applications. These include the further development of advanced FRP composites materials that achieve lighter and stronger FRP composites, how to enhance FRP integrated behavior through matrix modification, along with information on pretension treatments and intelligence technology. The development of new technology such as automated manufacturing and processing of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have played a significant role in optimizing fabrication processing and matrix formation. In this new edition, all chapters have been brought fully up-to-date to take on the key aspects mentioned above. The book's chapters cover all areas relevant to advanced FRP composites, from the material itself, its manufacturing, properties, testing and applications in structural and civil engineering. Applications span from civil engineering, to buildings and the energy industry. Covers all areas relevant to advanced FRP composites, from the material itself, its manufacturing, properties, testing and applications in structural engineering Features new manufacturing techniques, such as automated fiber placement and 3D printing of composites Includes various applications, such as prestressed-FRP, FRP made of short fibers, continuous structural health monitoring using advanced optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG), durability of FRP-strengthened structures, and the application of carbon nano-tubes or platelets for enhancing durability of FRP-bonded structures

Textile Fibre Composites in Civil Engineering provides a state-of-the-art review from leading experts on recent developments, the use of textile fiber composites in civil engineering, and a focus on both new and existing structures. Textile-based composites are new materials for civil engineers. Recent developments have demonstrated their potential in the prefabrication of concrete structures and as a tool for both strengthening and seismic retrofitting of existing concrete and masonry structures, including those of a historical value. The book reviews materials, production technologies, fundamental properties, testing, design aspects, applications, and directions for future research and developments. Following the opening introductory chapter, Part One covers materials, production technologies, and the manufacturing of textile fiber composites for structural and civil engineering. Part Two moves on to review testing, mechanical behavior, and durability aspects of textile fiber composites used in structural and civil engineering. Chapters here cover topics such as the durability of structural elements and bond aspects in textile fiber composites. Part Three analyzes the structural behavior and design of textile reinforced concrete. This section includes a number of case studies providing thorough coverage of the topic. The final section of the volume details the strengthening and seismic retrofitting of existing structures. Chapters investigate concrete and masonry structures, in addition to providing information and insights on future directions in the field. The book is a key volume for researchers, academics, practitioners, and students working in civil and structural engineering and those working with advanced construction materials. Details the range of materials and production technologies used in textile fiber composites Analyzes the durability of textile fiber composites, including case studies into the structural behavior of textile reinforced concrete Reviews the processes involved in strengthening existing concrete structures

Independent, practical guidance on the structural design of polymer composites is provided for the first time in this book. Structural designers familiar with design of conventional structural materials such as steel and concrete will be able to use it to design a broad range of polymeric composites for structural applications, using glass fibre reinforced plastic materials, components, connections and assemblies.

This book presents an introduction to the design and manufacture of fibre-reinforced composites. The mechanical properties of unidirectional composites are considered in a structural design context. The use of woven and random fibres is also addressed. The accuracy of design estimates for unidirectional composites is benchmarked against test data, and the relevance of a factor of safety (FoS) is established. The importance of prototype testing is emphasised. This book illustrates how to make a fibre-reinforced composite. Wet layup, vacuum bagging and prepreg moulding are covered in detail. Some guidance on mould design and construction is also provided. Finally, an introduction to the manufacture of composite tubes is presented. Wherever possible, design and make examples are used to illustrate the content. Tutorial questions and problems are included at the end of each chapter. The reader is encouraged to use these questions and problems to assess their own level of understanding of the content.

Design and Manufacture of Structural Composites provides an overview of the main manufacturing challenges encountered when processing fibre-reinforced composite materials. Composites are unique in that the material is created at the same time as the structure, forming a very close link between the constituents, the manufacturing process and the resulting mechanical performance. This book takes an in-depth look at material choices and the intermediate steps required to convert different fibre and matrix combinations into finished products. It provides an insight into recent developments for each of the manufacturing processes covered, addressing design, cost, rate and mechanical performance. Topics covered include an introduction to composite materials, material preforming and conversion, moulding, digital design and sustainability, which addresses waste reduction, disassembly and fibre recovery. This book has been developed primarily as a teaching resource with contributions from leading experts in the field. The content has evolved from courses given by the authors to mechanical engineering and materials science students, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It also draws upon experience gained during research projects and from leading industry experts. It therefore provides non-specialists with a valuable introduction to composite manufacturing techniques, helping to determine the most suitable manufacturing routes and to understand the challenges associated with the production of high-performance composite components. Provides an overview of the most common manufacturing routes for fibre reinforced composites, including the influence of the manufacturing route on mechanical properties, production volume and component cost Discusses recent advances in composite manufacturing, including the use of automation, process simulation, digital factories, and solutions to improve sustainability Looks at where the composites sector is heading and discusses some of the challenges faced by end-users looking to scale up production and increase the uptake of fibre-reinforced composites for structural applications

Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have become essential materials for maintaining and strengthening existing infrastructure. Many new innovative types of hybrid material and structural systems have been developed using FRP composite materials. Increased utilisation of FRP requires that structural engineers and practitioners be able to understand the behaviour of FRP materials and design composite structures. This book provides an overview of different advanced FRP composites and the use of these materials in a variety of application areas. This chapter specifically covers a brief review on FRP applications and gives an outline of the book.