Structural Composites

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The unit is formed by a series of lectures given by the teachers, to be complemented by a number of research assignments, presentations and experimental tasks to be performed by the students.

Evaluation consists in a final exam, in conjunction with the grades gathered by the students for the successful achievement of the different assignments.

Learning Outcomes

The unit intends to confront the student with a detailed approach to the materials,properties and processing routes which constitute the realm of advanced composites for structural applications.As a result, the student should understand:

•sheer diversity of composite materials of structural aptitude,their optimal uses and the corresponding part fabrication processes

•constitutive equations of monolithic,laminate,sandwich and mat composites

•failure modes occurring in laminae and laminates

•design methodologies applicable to composite structures

be able to:

•execute processing diagrams for composite parts

•analytically solve the constitutive equations for some types of composite materials

•numerically predict the mechanical behaviour of composite structures

•provide examples of specific design issues of composite parts for advanced machinery

know:

•fabrication processes for composite parts

•mechanics of structural composite materials

•design methodologies of composite structural parts.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction: fundamental concepts.

2. Fabrication processes

3. Variants of structural composites

4. Laminates and Reinforced Mats

5.Sandwich structures

6. Macromechanics of composite structures

7. Macromechanics of composite failure

8. Applications: case studies.

Assessment Methods

Evaluation
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

“Composite Materials-Mechanical Behaviour and Structural Analysis”, J.M.Berthelot,ed.Springer 1999.

“Numerical Analysis and Modelling of Composite Materials”, J.W. Bull, ed. Blackie Academic & Professional, 1996.

“The Behavior of Structures Composed of Composite Materials”, J.R. Vinson, R.L. Sierakowski, ed. Kluwer Academic 2002.