The high degree of heterogeneity of textile composites was found to be the primary problem in analysis and testing. A concept was developed based on a description of the local variation of the material stiffness matrix using a spline interpolation. The role of this stiffness function is to facilitate the calculation of the material stiffness matrix at any given position or for arbitrary domains in the form of finite elements.Based on this approach, two different methods were developed. In the first method the average material stiffness matrix is calculated for a finite element and subsequently the elemental stiffness matrix of this element is assembled. In the second approach the elemental stiffness matrix is calculated directly using the local material stiffness at the integration points of the finite element. This concept was then applied to the plate twist test. The numerical analysis of this test was done in order to determine the influence of heterogeneity on the test results. It was shown that this test measures the in-plane shear modulus largely independent of the representative volume element (RVE) size. Both finite element approaches were then applied to the V-notched beam shear test, to investigate the applicability of this test to the measurement of the shear properties. The test set-up as well as numerical parameters of the finite element analysis of the test were studied. It was possible to derive limits for the applicability of the V-notched beam shear test in terms of RVE size, as well as set up guidelines for the finite element analysis of textile composites. With electronic speckle pattern interferometry, which enables full-field displacement and strain measurements, tensile tests were carried out on 3D-woven textile composite specimens. With the agreement of the experimental results and the theoretical predictions the validity of the developed approach was again shown.

Textile structure and mechanics are fundamental to the way textiles are designed, manufactured, tested and used. Structure and mechanics of textile fibre assemblies discusses aspects of fabric structure and mechanical properties such as tensile, bending and shear properties for a range of fabrics.After a general introduction illustrating the role of fabric structure and mechanics, subsequent chapters discuss the structural, tensile, bending and shear properties of woven, knitted and nonwoven fabrics. Other chapters review the structure and mechanics of yarns, coated fabrics, 2D and 3D textile composites. Testing methods for the measurement of fabric mechanical properties and structure parameters are also explored.With its renowned editor and contributions from some of the world's leading authorities, Structure and mechanics of textile fibre assemblies is an important reference for textile scientists, technologists, engineers and those designing and manufacturing textiles. It will also be suitable for those within the academic sector. - Examines aspects of fabric structure and mechanical properties for a range of fabrics - Discusses structure and mechanics of yarn and woven, nonwoven and knitted fabrics - Explores testing methods enabling the measurement of fabric mechanical properties and structural parameters

Lists citations with abstracts for aerospace related reports obtained from world wide sources and announces documents that have recently been entered into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information Database.

Multi-scale modelling of composites is a very relevant topic in composites science. This is illustrated by the numerous sessions in the recent European and International Conferences on Composite Materials, but also by the fast developments in multi-scale modelling software tools, developed by large industrial players such as Siemens (Virtual Material Characterization toolkit and MultiMechanics virtual testing software), MSC/e-Xstream (Digimat software), Simulia (micromechanics plug-in in Abaqus), HyperSizer (Multi-scale design of composites), Altair (Altair Multiscale Designer) This book is intended to be an ideal reference on the latest advances in multi-scale modelling of fibre-reinforced polymer composites, that is accessible for both (young) researchers and end users of modelling software. We target three main groups: This book aims at a complete introduction and overview of the state-of-the-art in multi-scale modelling of composites in three axes: • ranging from prediction of homogenized elastic properties to nonlinear material behaviour • ranging from geometrical models for random packing of unidirectional fibres over meso-scale geometries for textile composites to orientation tensors for short fibre composites • ranging from damage modelling of unidirectionally reinforced composites over textile composites to short fibre-reinforced composites The book covers the three most important scales in multi-scale modelling of composites: (i) micro-scale, (ii) meso-scale and (iii) macro-scale. The nano-scale and related atomistic and molecular modelling approaches are deliberately excluded, since the book wants to focus on continuum mechanics and there are already a lot of dedicated books about polymer nanocomposites. A strong focus is put on physics-based damage modelling, in the sense that the chapters devote attention to modelling the different damage mechanisms (matrix cracking, fibre/matrix debonding, delamination, fibre fracture,...) in such a way that the underlying physics of the initiation and growth of these damage modes is respected. The book also gives room to not only discuss the finite element based approaches for multi-scale modelling, but also much faster methods that are popular in industrial software, such as Mean Field Homogenization methods (based on Mori-Tanaka and Eshelby solutions) and variational methods (shear lag theory and more advanced theories). Since the book targets a wide audience, the focus is put on the most common numerical approaches that are used in multi-scale modelling. Very specialized numerical methods like peridynamics modelling, Material Point Method, eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM), isogeometric analysis, SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics),... are excluded. Outline of the book The book is divided in three large parts, well balanced with each a similar number of chapters:

The fifth volume of this six-volume compendium publishes technical guidance and properties on ceramic matrix composite material systems. The selected guidance on technical topics related to this class of composites includes material selection, processing, characterization, testing, data reduction, design, analysis, quality control, application, case histories, and lessons learned of typical ceramic matrix composite materials. Volume 5, which covers ceramic matrix composites, supersedes MIL-HDBK-17-5 of June 17, 2002. The Composite Materials Handbook, referred to by industry groups as CMH-17, is an engineering reference tool that contains over 1,000 records of the latest test data for polymer matrix, metal matrix, ceramic matrix, and structural sandwich composites. CMH-17 provides information and guidance necessary to design and fabricate end items from composite materials. It includes properties of composite materials that meet specific data requirements as well as guidelines for design, analysis, material selection, manufacturing, quality control, and repair. The primary purpose of the handbook is to standardize engineering methodologies related to testing, data reduction, and reporting of property data for current and emerging composite materials. It is used by engineers worldwide in designing and fabricating products made from composite materials.

Selected, peer reviewed papers from the Eight International Conference on Composite Science and Technology (ICCST 8), 22 – 24 March 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Composites materials have aroused a great interest over the last few decades. Several applications of fibrous composites, functionally graded materials, laminated composites, nano-structured reinforcements, morphing structures, can be found in many engineering fields, such as aerospace, mechanical, naval and civil engineering. The necessity of lightweight structures, smart and adaptive systems, high-level strength, have led both the academic research and the manufacturing development to a recurring employment of these materials. Many journal papers and technical notes have been published extensively over the last seventy years in international scientific journals of different engineering fields. For this reason, the establishment of this second edition of Mechanics of Composites International Conference has appeared appropriate to continue what has been begun during the first edition occurred in 2014 at Stony Brook University (USA). MECHCOMP wants to be an occasion for many researchers from each part of the globe to meet and discuss about the recent advancements regarding the use of composite structures. As a proof of this event, which has taken place in Porto (Portugal), selected plenary and key-note lectures have been collected in the present book.