Composite Materials and Structures for Engineering Students

Composites are now established engineering materials, offering weight savings and longevity to a rapidly-expanding range of applications in the aerospace, marine, energy, construction, sports and automotive sectors. Student engineers need to know more about these unique materials – how to select, manufacture and design/analyse – so they can take advantage of the many new employment opportunities, or prepare themselves for further study. This book provides the basics of engineering polymer composites at a level appropriate for the undergraduate student. Its 15 chapters cover the constituent materials; how composite laminates and structures are made; and how they are analysed and tested. The text includes over 100 exercises and problems, as well as guidance on the use of laminate analysis software and FEA. The author was Associate Professor at the University of Plymouth, UK, and deputy head of the School of Engineering. As well as undergraduate teaching, he developed a wide range of short courses, workshops and training for industry, covering many aspects of composites manufacture, design and testing. He has undertaken commercial consultancy work for industries in the energy, marine and aerospace sectors, supervised many PhD students and participated in UK and European-funded collaborative research programmes.