FOREWORD
Composites have emerged as a valuable class
of engineering materials because they offer
many attributes not attainable with other
materials. Light weight, coupled with high
stiffness, and selectable properties have fos-
tered their use for many years in satellites,
high performance aircraft and world class sail-
boats as well as submarines. Now, these
materials demonstrate their worth in the mun-
dane, but equally as demanding, consumer,
infrastructure, and sporting goods arenas.
However, the transition to many of these con-
sumer and infrastructure-related arenas has
been slow, primarily due to the lack of under-
standing, the lack of validated data, absence of
design allowables, lack of clear guidelines,
limited hands-on experience, low confidence
and less than optimum supplier data sheets. It
is hoped that this book, crafted by well known
contributors, pre-eminent in their field, mem-
bers of international universities, industrial
research organizations, and government labs
will remedy some of these weak areas and that
this edition will continue as the primary refer-
ence in the composites field and as basic a text
for educational uses as was the first edition.
The editor of the first edition, George
Lubin, was a valued mentor to many, includ-
ing the present editor. This book carries on the
legacy he started: that of a compact but thor-
ough sourcebook, with validated, useful data
to increase understanding, incorporating
application guidelines, fabrication methods
and tradeoffs, basic polymer information and
design recommendations. The successful,
cost-effective fabrication of composite struc-
tures requires utmost cooperation between the
various design and manufacturing specialties
and is one of the prime drivers for ‘concurrent
engineering’. The needs of concurrent engi-
neering require all contributors to a successful
composite structure design to have some
knowledge of composites. It is hoped that this
handbook will facilitate the acquisition of that
knowledge.
There is little change in scope or objectives
from the first edition, but many changes in
content. Organic matrix composites are still
highlighted and a limited treatment of metal
matrix, carbon and ceramic matrix compos-
ites, as well as treatment of the new polymers,
including the thermoplastic materials have
been added.
The treatment of processing methods has
been expanded for reader convenience, dou-
bling the previous number of chapters. The
structural efficiency of a composite structure is
often determined by its joints, not by its basic
structure. Thus, an extensive treatment of
composite surface treatment, mechanical fas-
tening, and adhesive bonding, which continue
to be important, sometimes vexing areas of
concern in composite structure fabrication,
have been added.
The analysis section has been expanded
with chapters dealing with laminate design,
composite structure design and a new, impor-
tant subject, design allowables substantiation.
There are new chapters on repair, safety and
reuse of composites as well as chapters on the
applications of composites to medical, con-
struction and sporting goods uses that reflect
current concerns and important new uses for
composite materials.
S.T. Peters