This unique book is dedicated to the application of self-consistent methods to the solution of static and dynamic problems of the mechanics and physics of composite materials. The effective elastic, electric, dielectric, thermo-conductive and other properties of composite materials reinforced by ellipsoidal, spherical multi-layered inclusions, thin hard and soft inclusions, short fibers and unidirected multi-layered fibers are considered. The book contains many concrete results.

The first systematic reference on the topic with an emphasis on the characteristics and dimension of the reinforcement. This first of three volumes, authored by leading researchers in the field from academia, government, industry, as well as private research institutions around the globe, focuses on macro and micro composites. Clearly divided into three sections, the first offers an introduction to polymer composites, discussing the state of the art, new challenges, and opportunities of various polymer composite systems, as well as preparation and manufacturing techniques. The second part looks at macro systems, with an emphasis on fiber reinforced polymer composites, textile composites, and polymer hybrid composites. Likewise, the final section deals with micro systems, including micro particle reinforced polymer composites, the synthesis, surface modification and characterization of micro particulate fillers and flakes as well as filled polymer micro composites, plus applications and the recovery, recycling and life cycle analysis of synthetic polymeric composites.

This unique book is dedicated to the application of self-consistent methods to the solution of static and dynamic problems of the mechanics and physics of composite materials. The effective elastic, electric, dielectric, thermo-conductive and other properties of composite materials reinforced by ellipsoidal, spherical multi-layered inclusions, thin hard and soft inclusions, short fibers and unidirected multi-layered fibers are considered. The book contains many concrete results.

The book contains state-of the-art reviews in the area of effective properties of heterogeneous materials - the classical field at interface of materials science and solid mechanics. The primary focus is on thermo-mechanical properties, materials science applications, as well as computational aspects and new opportunities provided by rapidly increasing computer powers. The reviews are at the level that is appropriate for a substantial community of researchers working in this field, both at universities and in the industry, and to graduate students. The book can be used as supplementary reading to graduate level courses.

"The International Conference on Heterogeneous Material Mechanics (ICHMM) in Huangshan, China, June 3-8, 2008 follows the successful inaugural ICHMM held in ChongQing, China in June, 2004. The ICHMM series is the first international forum that focuses exclusively on various issues related to the behavior of heterogeneous materials in a broad sense. The object of the ICHMM is to present and publicize integrated scientific and engineering approaches to the measurement and modeling of phenomena at the interface of materials science, physics, chemistry, biology, and solid mechanics."--Preface, p. xxxix.

Polymer composites were introduced for the aerospace industry as light, strong, stiff materials, and adopted by the construction and automobile industries, among others. Meanwhile, composite materials have been introduced to fulfill the uses that these conventional materials could not, such as in extreme environments. The research for new composites includes not only new polymer systems, but metals, ceramics and intermetallic systems as well. This volume contains a selection of recent work by leading researchers in micromechanics on the topics of prediction of overall properties of elastic, perfectly bonded systems, problems associated with inelastic deformation of the phase, debonding at interfaces and growth of distributed damage. Many familiar aspects of mechanical behavior, such as fatigue, fracture, strength and buckling, etc. have been reexamined and adapted for these new systems.

Mechanical properties of composite materials can be improved by tailoring their microstructures. Optimal microstructures of composites, which ensure desired properties of composite materials, can be determined in computational experiments. The subject of this book is the computational analysis of interrelations between mechanical properties (e.g., strength, damage resistance stiffness) and microstructures of composites. The methods of mesomechanics of composites are reviewed, and applied to the modelling of the mechanical behaviour of different groups of composites. Individual chapters are devoted to the computational analysis of the microstructure- mechanical properties relationships of particle reinforced composites, functionally graded and particle clusters reinforced composites, interpenetrating phase and unidirectional fiber reinforced composites, and machining tools materials.

Since synthetic plastics derived from fossil resources are mostly non-biodegradable, many academic and industrial researchers have shifted their attention toward bio-based materials, which are more eco-friendly.Bio-Based Composites for High-Performance Materials: From Strategy to Industrial Application provides an overview of the state-of-art in bi

The purpose of aligning short fibers in a fiber-reinforced material is to improve the mechanical properties of the resulting composite. Aligning the fibers, generally in a preferred direction, allows them to contribute as much as possible to reinforcing the material. The first edition of this book detailed, in a single volume, the science, processing, applications, characterization and properties of composite materials reinforced with short fibers that have been orientated in a preferred direction by flows arising during processing. The technology of fiber-reinforced composites is continually evolving and this new edition provides timely and much needed information about this important class of engineering materials. Each of the original chapters have been brought fully up-to-date and new developments such as: the advent of nano-composites and the issues relating to their alignment; the wider use of long-fiber composites and the appearance of models able to capture their orientation during flow; the wider use of flows in micro-channels in the context of composites fabrication; and the increase in computing power, which has made relevant simulations (especially coupling flow kinematics to fiber content and orientation) much easier to perform are all covered in detail. The book will be an essential up-to-date reference resource for materials scientists, students, and engineers who are working in the relevant areas of particulate composites, short fiber-reinforced composites or nanocomposites. - Presents recent progress on flow-induced alignment, modelling and design of fiber and particulate filled polymer composites - Discusses important advances such as alignment of CNTs in polymer nanocomposites and molecular alignment of polymers induced by the injection molding process in the presence of fillers such as short fibers - Presents fiber interaction/diffusion modelling and also the fiber flexure/breakage models