Structural Composite Materials

This book deals with all aspects of advanced composite materials; what they are, where they are used, how they are made, their properties, how they are designed and analyzed, and how they perform in-service. It covers both continuous and discontinuous fiber composites fabricated from polymer, metal, and ceramic matrices, with an emphasis on continuous fiber polymer matrix composites.

Composite materials have been representing most significant breakthroughs in various industrial applications, particularly in aerospace structures, during the past thirty five years. The primary goal of Advanced Mechanics of Composite Materials is the combined presentation of advanced mechanics, manufacturing technology, and analysis of composite materials. This approach lets the engineer take into account the essential mechanical properties of the material itself and special features of practical implementation, including manufacturing technology, experimental results, and design characteristics. Giving complete coverage of the topic: from basics and fundamentals to the advanced analysis including practical design and engineering applications. At the same time including a detailed and comprehensive coverage of the contemporary theoretical models at the micro- and macro- levels of material structure, practical methods and approaches, experimental results, and optimisation of composite material properties and component performance. The authors present the results of more than 30 year practical experience in the field of design and analysis of composite materials and structures. * Eight chapters progressively covering all structural levels of composite materials from their components through elementary plies and layers to laminates * Detailed presentation of advanced mechanics of composite materials * Emphasis on nonlinear material models (elasticity, plasticity, creep) and structural nonlinearity

Structural Analysis of Polymeric Composite Materials studies the mechanics of composite materials and structures and combines classical lamination theory with macromechanic failure principles for prediction and optimization of composite structural performance. This reference addresses topics such as high-strength fibers, commercially-available compounds, and the behavior of anisotropic, orthotropic, and transversely isotropic materials and structures subjected to complex loading. It provides a wide variety of numerical analyses and examples throughout each chapter and details the use of easily-accessible computer programs for solutions to problems presented in the text.

This book introduces different advanced composite materials used in construction of civil engineering infrastructures. It reflects the latest manufacturing processes and applications in the civil structures. This book also includes test cases and its validation with finite element method using computer software. Moreover, the book also deals with design methodology of advanced composite materials based on different applications. The comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art research on the composite materials presented herein is of interest to scientists, researchers, students and engineers, and practitioners in general working in area of innovative composite materials and structures. This book is also helpful for Ph.D. research scholars for developing their fundamental understanding on advanced materials, and it is also appropriate for master and undergraduate level courses on composite materials.

This book covers topics related to structural composite materials such as processing, characterization, applications and challenges. The book presents ways of processing composites, where different types of composites can be processed depending on the type of reinforcement and matrix. It also outlines the evaluation of mechanical properties of a few processed composites and discusses the potential applications of composites and machining challenges faced in processing polymer and ceramic composites. The book caters to material scientists, industrial practitioners, researchers and students working on structural composite materials.

Composite materials have been well developed to meet the challenges of high-performing material properties targeting engineering and structural applications. The ability of composite materials to absorb stresses and dissipate strain energy is vastly superior to that of other materials such as polymers and ceramics, and thus they offer engineers many mechanical, thermal, chemical and damage-tolerance advantages with limited drawbacks such as brittleness. Composite Materials: Manufacturing, Properties and Applications presents a comprehensive review of current status and future directions, latest technologies and innovative work, challenges and opportunities for composite materials. The chapters present latest advances and comprehensive coverage of material types, design, fabrication, modelling, properties and applications from conventional composite materials to advanced composites such as nanocomposites, self-healing and smart composites. The book targets researchers in the field of advanced composite materials and ceramics, students of materials science and engineering at the postgraduate level, as well as material engineers and scientists working in industrial R& D sectors for composite material manufacturing. Comprehensive coverage of material types, design, fabrication, modelling, properties and applications from conventional composite materials to advanced composites such as nanocomposites, self-healing and smart composites Features latest advances in terms of mechanical properties and other material parameters which are essential for designers and engineers in the composite and composite reinforcement manufacturing industry, as well as all those with an academic research interest in the subject Offers a good platform for end users to refer to the latest technologies and topics fitting into specific applications and specific methods to tackle manufacturing or material processing issues in relation to different types of composite materials

A compact presentation of the foundations, current state of the art, recent developments and research directions of all essential techniques related to the mechanics of composite materials and structures. Special emphasis is placed on classic and recently developed theories of composite laminated beams, plates and shells, micromechanics, impact and damage analysis, mechanics of textile structural composites, high strain rate testing and non-destructive testing of composite materials and structures. Topics of growing importance are addressed, such as: numerical methods and optimisation, identification and damage monitoring. The latest results are presented on the art of modelling smart composites, optimal design with advanced materials, and industrial applications. Each section of the book is written by internationally recognised experts who have dedicated most of their research work to a particular field. Readership: Postgraduate students, researchers and engineers in the field of composites. Undergraduate students will benefit from the treatment of the foundations of the mechanics of composite materials and structures.

Book presents a comprehensive set of design and analysis equations, as well as technical steps, to enable engineers and technicians to produce and test effective structural joints using composite materials and explaining how composites joints differ from ones made of metal.