Principles of Composite Material Mechanics

Extensively updated and maintaining the high standard of the popular original, Principles of Composite Material Mechanics, Second Edition reflects many of the recent developments in the mechanics of composite materials. It draws on the decades of teaching and research experience of the author and the course material of the senior undergraduate and graduate level classes he has taught. New and up-to-date information throughout the text brings modern engineering students everything they need to advance their knowledge of the evermore common composite materials. The introduction strengthens the book’s emphasis on basic principles of mechanics by adding a review of the basic mechanics of materials equations. New appendices cover the derivations of stress equilibrium equations and the strain–displacement relations from elasticity theory. Additional sections address recent applications of composite mechanics to nanocomposites, composite grid structures, and composite sandwich structures. More detailed discussion of elasticity and finite element models have been included along with results from the recent World Wide Failure Exercise. The author takes a phenomenological approach to illustrate linear viscoelastic behavior of composites. Updated information on the nature of fracture and composite testing includes coverage of the finite element implementation of the Virtual Crack Closure technique and new and revised ASTM standard test methods. The author includes updated and expanded material property tables, many more example problems and homework exercises, as well as new reference citings throughout the text. Requiring a solid foundation in materials mechanics, engineering, linear algebra, and differential equations, Principles of Composite Materials Mechanics, Second Edition provides the advanced knowledge in composite materials needed by today’s materials scientists and engineers.