Given such advantages as low weight compared to strength and toughness, laminated composites are now used in a wide range of applications. Their increasing use has underlined the need to understand their principal mode of failure, delamination. This important book reviews key research in understanding and preventing delamination.The first part of the book reviews general issues such as the role of fracture mechanics in understanding delamination, design issues and ways of testing delamination resistance. Part two describes techniques for detecting and characterising delamination such as piezoelectric sensors, the use of lamb waves and acoustic emission techniques. The next two sections of the book discuss ways of studying and modelling delamination behaviour. The final part of the book reviews research on delamination behaviour in particular conditions such as shell and sandwich structures, z-pin bridging and resin bonding.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Delamination behaviour of composites is a standard reference for all those researching laminated composites and using them in such diverse applications as microelectronics, aerospace, marine, automotive and civil engineering. - Reviews the role of fracture mechanics in understanding delamination, design issues and ways of testing delamination resistance - Discuss ways of studying and modelling delamination behaviour - A standard reference for all those researching laminated composites

In the last quarter century, delamination has come to mean more than just a failure in adhesion between layers of bonded composite plies that might affect their load-bearing capacity. Ever-increasing computer power has meant that we can now detect and analyze delamination between, for example, cell walls in solid wood. This fast-moving and critically important field of study is covered in a book that provides everyone from manufacturers to research scientists the state of the art in wood delamination studies. Divided into three sections, the book first details the general aspects of the subject, from basic information including terminology, to the theoretical basis for the evaluation of delamination. A settled terminology in this subject area is a first key goal of the book, as the terms which describe delamination in wood and wood-based composites are numerous and often confusing. The second section examines different and highly specialized methods for delamination detection such as confocal laser scanning microscopy, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and ultrasonics. Ways in which NDE (non-destructive evaluation) can be employed to detect and locate defects are also covered. The book’s final section focuses on the practical aspects of this defect in a wide range of wood products covering the spectrum from trees, logs, laminated panels and glued laminated timbers to parquet floors. Intended as a primary reference, this book covers everything from the microscopic, anatomical level of delamination within solid wood sections to an examination of the interface of wood and its surface coatings. It provides readers with the perspective of industry as well as laboratory and is thus a highly practical sourcebook for wood engineers working in manufacturing as well as a comprehensively referenced text for materials scientists wrestling with the theory underlying the subject.

Ageing of composites is a highly topical subject given the increasing use of composites in structural applications in many industries. Ageing of composites addresses many of the uncertainties about the long-term performance of composites and how they age under conditions encountered in service.The first part of the book reviews processes and modelling of composite ageing including physical and chemical ageing of polymeric composites, ageing of glass-ceramic matrix composites, chemical ageing mechanisms, stress corrosion cracking, thermo-oxidative ageing, spectroscopy of ageing composites, modelling physical and accelerated ageing and ageing of silicon carbide composites. Part two examines ageing of composites in transport applications including aircraft, vehicles and ships. Part three reviews ageing of composites in non-transport applications such as implants in medical devices, oil and gas refining, construction, chemical processing and underwater applications.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Ageing of composites is a valuable reference guide for composite manufacturers and developers. It also serves as a source of information for material scientists, designers and engineers in industries that use composites, including transport, chemical processing and medical engineering. - Addresses many of the uncertainties about the long-term performance of composites and how they age under conditions encountered in service - Reviews processes and modelling of composite ageing including chemical ageing mechanisms and stress corrosion cracking - Discusses ageing of composites in both transport and non-transport applications ranging from aircraft to implants in medical devices

The growing use of polymer composites is leading to increasing demand for fractographic expertise. Fractography is the study of fracture surface morphologies and it gives an insight into damage and failure mechanisms, underpinning the development of physically-based failure criteria. In composites research it provides a crucial link between predictive models and experimental observations. Finally, it is vital for post-mortem analysis of failed or crashed polymer composite components, the findings of which can be used to optimise future designs.Failure analysis and fractography of polymer composites covers the following topics: methodology and tools for failure analysis; fibre-dominated failures; delamination-dominated failures; fatigue failures; the influence of fibre architecture on failure; types of defect and damage; case studies of failures due to overload and design deficiencies; case studies of failures due to material and manufacturing defects; and case studies of failures due to in-service factors.With its distinguished author, Failure analysis and fractography of polymer composites is a standard reference text for researchers working on damage and failure mechanisms in composites, engineers characterising manufacturing and in-service defects in composite structures, and investigators undertaking post-mortem failure analysis of components. The book is aimed at both academic and industrial users, specifically final year and postgraduate engineering and materials students researching composites and industry designers and engineers in aerospace, civil, marine, power and transport applications. - Examines the study of fracture surface morphologies in uderstanding composite structural behaviour - Discusses composites research and post-modern analysis of failed or crashed polymer composite components - Provides an overview of damage mechanisms, types of defect and failure criteria

When fibres in a composite are discontinuous and are shorter than a few millimetres, the composite is called a 'short fibre reinforced composite (SFRP)'. SFRPs have found extensive applications in automobiles, business machines, durable consumer items, sporting goods and electrical industries owing to their low cost, easy processing and superior mechanical properties over the parent polymers. The book summarises recent developments in this area, focusing on the fundamental mechanisms that govern the mechanical properties including strength, modulus, fracture toughness and thermal properties of SFRP materials.This book covers the following topics: extrusion compounding and injection moulding, major factors affecting mechanical performance, stress transfer, strength, elastic modulus flexural modulus, thermal conductivity and expansion, non-linear stress-strain behaviour and fracture mechanics of short fibre reinforced polymers.With its distinguished team of authors, Science and engineering of short fibre reinforced polymer composites is a standard reference for anyone involved in the development, manufacture and use of SFRPs. It will also provide an in-depth understanding of the behaviour of these versatile materials. - Reviews the mechanical properties and functions of short fibre reinforced polymer composites (SFRP) - Examines recent developments in the fundamental mechanisms of SFRP's - Assesses major factors affecting mechanical performance such as stress transfer and strength

The use of composites is growing in structural applications in many industries including aerospace, marine, wind turbine and civil engineering. There are uncertainties about the long term performance of these composites and how they will perform under cyclic fatigue loading. Fatigue life prediction of composites and composite structures provides a comprehensive review of fatigue damage and fatigue life prediction methodologies for composites and how they can be used in practice.After an introductory chapter, Part one reviews developments in ways of modelling composite fatigue life. The second part of the book reviews developments in predicting composite fatigue life under different conditions including constant and variable amplitude loading as well as multiaxial and cyclic loading. Part three then describes applications such as fatigue life prediction of bonded joints and wind turbine rotor blades as well as health monitoring of composite structures.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Fatigue life prediction of composites and composite structures is a standard reference for industry and researchers working with composites and those concerned with the long-term performance and fatigue life of composite components and structures. - Examines past, present and future trends associated with fatigue life prediction of composite materials and structures - Assesses novel computational methods for fatigue life modelling and prediction of composite materials under constant amplitude loading - Specific chapters investigate fatigue life prediction of wind turbine rotor blades and bonded joints in composite structures

Polymer matrix composites are increasingly replacing traditional materials, such as metals, for applications in the aerospace, automotive and marine industries. Because of the relatively recent development of these composites there is extensive on-going research to improve the understanding and modelling of their behaviour – particularly their failure processes. As a consequence there is a strong demand among design engineers for the latest information on this behaviour in order to fully exploit the potential of these materials for a wide range of weight-sensitive applications. Failure mechanisms in polymer matrix composites explores the main types of composite failure and examines their implications in specific applications.Part one discusses various failure mechanisms, including a consideration of manufacturing defects and addressing a variety of loading forms such as impact and the implications for structural integrity. This part also reviews testing techniques and modelling methods for predicting potential failure in composites. Part two investigates the effects of polymer-matrix composite failure in a range of industries including aerospace, automotive and other transport, defence, marine and off-shore applications. Recycling issues and environmental factors affecting the use of composite materials are also considered.With its distinguished editors and international team of expert contributors Failure mechanisms in polymer matrix composites is a valuable reference for designers, scientists and research and development managers working in the increasing range of industries in which composite materials are extensively used. The book will also be a useful guide for academics studying in the composites field. - Discusses various failure mechanisms, including manufacturing defects - Reviews testing techniques and modelling methods for predicting potential failure - Investigates failure in aerospace, automotive, defence, marine and off-shore applications

Creep is the tendency of materials to deform when subjected to long-term stress, particularly when exposed to heat. Fatigue phenomena occur when a material is subjected to cyclic loading, causing damage which may progress to failure. Both are critical factors in the long-term performance and reliability of materials such as polymer matrix composites which are often exposed to these types of stress in civil engineering and other applications. This important book reviews the latest research in modelling and predicting creep and fatigue in polymer matrix composites. The first part of the book reviews the modelling of viscoelastic and viscoplastic behaviour as a way of predicting performance and service life. Part two discusses techniques for modelling creep rupture and failure. The final part of the book discusses ways of testing and predicting long-term creep and fatigue in polymer matrix composites. With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Creep and Fatigue in Polymer Matrix Composites is a standard reference for all those researching and using polymer matrix composites in such areas as civil engineering. - Reviews the latest research in modelling and predicting creep and fatigue in polymer matrix composites - A specific focus on viscoelestic and viscoplastic modelling features the time-temperature-age superposition principle for predicting long-term response - Creep rupture and damage interaction is examined with particular focus on time-dependent failure criteria for lifetime prediction of polymer matrix composite structures illustrated using experimental cases