This book will teach the non-engineer aircraft homebuilder how to make very light high performance composite structures using simple techniques and materials generally available at a home supply store.

Design and Analysis of Composite Structures enables graduate students and engineers to generate meaningful and robust designs of complex composite structures. Combining analysis and design methods for structural components, the book begins with simple topics such as skins and stiffeners and progresses through to entire components of fuselages and wings. Starting with basic mathematical derivation followed by simplifications used in real-world design, Design and Analysis of Composite Structures presents the level of accuracy and range of applicability of each method. Examples taken from actual applications are worked out in detail to show how the concepts are applied, solving the same design problem with different methods based on different drivers (e.g. cost or weight) to show how the final configuration changes as the requirements and approach change. Provides a toolkit of analysis and design methods to most situations encountered in practice, as well as analytical frameworks and the means to solving them for tackling less frequent problems. Presents solutions applicable to optimization schemes without having to run finite element models at each iteration, speeding up the design process and allowing examination of several more alternatives than traditional approaches. Includes guidelines showing how decisions based on manufacturing considerations affect weight and how weight optimization may adversely affect the cost. Accompanied by a website at www.wiley.com/go/kassapoglou hosting lecture slides and solutions to the exercises for instructors.

The structural materials used in airframe and propulsion systems influence the cost, performance and safety of aircraft, and an understanding of the wide range of materials used and the issues surrounding them is essential for the student of aerospace engineering.Introduction to aerospace materials reviews the main structural and engine materials used in aircraft, helicopters and spacecraft in terms of their production, properties, performance and applications.The first three chapters of the book introduce the reader to the range of aerospace materials, focusing on recent developments and requirements. Following these introductory chapters, the book moves on to discuss the properties and production of metals for aerospace structures, including chapters covering strengthening of metal alloys, mechanical testing, and casting, processing and machining of aerospace metals. The next ten chapters look in depth at individual metals including aluminium, titanium, magnesium, steel and superalloys, as well as the properties and processing of polymers, composites and wood. Chapters on performance issues such as fracture, fatigue and corrosion precede a chapter focusing on inspection and structural health monitoring of aerospace materials. Disposal/recycling and materials selection are covered in the final two chapters.With its comprehensive coverage of the main issues surrounding structural aerospace materials,Introduction to aerospace materials is essential reading for undergraduate students studying aerospace and aeronautical engineering. It will also be a valuable resource for postgraduate students and practising aerospace engineers. - Reviews the main structural and engine materials used in aircraft, helicopters and space craft in terms of their properties, performance and applications - Introduces the reader to the range of aerospace materials, focusing on recent developments and requirements, and discusses the properties and production of metals for aerospace structures - Chapters look in depth at individual metals including aluminium, titanium, magnesium, steel and superalloys

Start here if you know nothing about composites except that new Light Sport kit designs, Boeing, and Airbus are using the technology.

Structural Health Monitoring of Aerospace Composite Structures offers a comprehensive review of established and promising technologies under development in the emerging area of structural health monitoring (SHM) of aerospace composite structures. Beginning with a description of the different types of composite damage, which differ fundamentally from the damage states encountered in metallic airframes, the book moves on to describe the SHM methods and sensors currently under consideration before considering application examples related to specific composites, SHM sensors, and detection methods. Expert author Victor Giurgiutiu closes with a valuable discussion of the advantages and limitations of various sensors and methods, helping you to make informed choices in your structure research and development. - The first comprehensive review of one of the most ardent research areas in aerospace structures, providing breadth and detail to bring engineers and researchers up to speed on this rapidly developing field - Covers the main classes of SHM sensors, including fiber optic sensors, piezoelectric wafer active sensors, electrical properties sensors and conventional resistance strain gauges, and considers their applications and limitation - Includes details of active approaches, including acousto-ultrasonics, vibration, frequency transfer function, guided-wave tomography, phased arrays, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (ECIS), among other emerging methods