A rational approach to the problem of accelerated testing for material characterization of advanced polymer matrix composites is discussed. The experimental and analytical methods provided should be viewed as a set of tools useful in the screening of material systems for long-term engineering properties in aerospace applications. Consideration is given to long-term exposure in extreme environments that include elevated temperature, reduced temperature, moisture, oxygen, and mechanical load. Analytical formulations useful for predictive models that are based on the principles of time-based superposition are presented. The need for reproducible mechanisms, indicator properties, and real-time data are outlined as well as the methodologies for determining specific aging mechanisms.Gates, Thomas S.Langley Research CenterPOLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES; ACCELERATED LIFE TESTS; MICROSTRUCTURE; LIFE (DURABILITY); AGING (MATERIALS); MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; AEROSPACE ENGINEERING; AEROSPACE ENVIRONMENTS; RELIABILITY ANALYSIS; PERFORMANCE PREDICTION

This book presents the state-of-the-art in multiscale modeling and simulation techniques for composite materials and structures. It focuses on the structural and functional properties of engineering composites and the sustainable high performance of components and structures. The multiscale techniques can be also applied to nanocomposites which are important application areas in nanotechnology. There are few books available on this topic.

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

This the third volume of six from the Annual Conference of the Society for Experimental Mechanics, 2010, brings together 56 chapters on Time-Dependent Constitutive Fracture and Failure. It presents early findings from experimental and computational investigations on Time Dependent Materials including contributions on Thermal and Mechanical Characterization, Coupled Experimental and Computational Analysis of Fracture Path Selection, Procedures for Mixed Mode Fracture Testing of Bonded Beams, and Experimental Study of Voids in High Strength Aluminum Alloys.

Thanks to their low density and tailored properties, polymer matrix composites are attractive candidates for a large number of industrial applications ranging from aerospace to transportation and energy. However, the behaviour of polymer-based materials is strongly affected by a number of environmental factors. Environmental Degradation in Industrial Composites provides vital information on the effects of environmental factors such as temperature, liquid and gas exposure, electrical fields and radiations, and how micro- and micromechanical calculations during design and manufacture must take these effects into account. The book concludes with reviews on standard and specific testing methods for the various environmental factors and their combinations, helping mechanical/materials engineers and specifiers to predict possible changes due to environmental conditions. Each chapter is supplemented by industrial case studies to help in the understanding of degradation of composites in real life situations.This book will help you to...* Understand how environmental factors lead to degradation effects in polymer matrix composite structures* Build these factors into calculations when predicting the part performance and lifetime of structures* Compare real-life situations from case studies with your predicted results* Predict probable composite behaviour with greater accuracyThis book will help you to...* Understand how environmental factors lead to degradation effects in polymer matrix composite structures* Build these factors into calculations when predicting the part performance and lifetime of structures* Compare real-life situations from case studies with your predicted results* Predict probable composite behaviour with greater accuracy

Selected, peer reviewed papers from 7th International Conference on Fracture and Damage Mechanics, FDM 2008, 9-11 September, 2008, Korea