1995 Catalog Data:

Particle and fiber-reinforced composites, stress-strain relations of anisotropic materials, tensor transformation, derivation of effective moduli of composites from those of the constituents, strength theories, cross-ply/angle-ply laminates, symmetric/anti- symmetric laminates, and engineering applications.

Textbook: Mechanics of Composite Materials by Robert M. Jones, Scripta Book Company, 1975

Coordinator: G. J. Weng, Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Goals:

This course is designed to introduce to students the basic theory and applications of modern composite materials. The focus was on the stiffness and strength of the anisotropic fiber-reinforced composites, so that they could use this new class of materials to design light- weight and strong engineering structures.

Prerequisites by topics:

1. Engineering Mechanics I, Statics
2. Introduction to Mechanics of Materials
3. Concept of stress and strain, Hooke's laws, Mohr's circle
   

Topics:

1. Basic structures of composite materials (2 classes)
2. Stress, strain and their transformation, and isotropic stress-strain relations (2 classes)
3. Orthotropic and transversely isotropic stress-strain relations (4 classes)
4. Estimates of composite stiffness; rule of mixtures (4 classes)
5. Strength theories; maximum strain and maximum stress; Tsai-Hill's anisotropic theory and Tsai-Wu tensor theory (2 classes)
6. Laminated composites; cross ply and angle ply; symmetric and anti-symmetric laminates (4 classes)
7. In-plane laminate theory; ply stress and ply strain analysis (4 classes)
8. Classical lamination theory; resultant force and moments (4 classes)
9. Review and tests (2 classes)
   

Design Project:

Design of a pressure vessel using fiber-reinforced composites. To design a close- end cylindrical pressure vessel as large a diameter as possible with a constant thickness to sustain the highest possible internal pressure without failure.

Computer usage:

1. Most homework needs to be done by computers.
2. Design project needs to be done by computers.
   

ABET category content as estimated by faculty member who prepared this course description:

Engineering sciences: 1.5 credits or 50%

Engineering design: 1.5 credits or 50%