This book provides a simple and unified approach to the mechanics of discontinuous-fibre reinforced composites, and introduces readers as generally as possible to the key concepts regarding the mechanics of elastic stress transfer, intermediate modes of stress transfer, plastic stress transfer, fibre pull-out, fibre fragmentation and matrix rupture. These concepts are subsequently applied to progressive stages of the loading process, through to the composite fractures. The book offers a valuable guide for advanced undergraduate and graduate students attending lecture courses on fibre composites. It is also intended for beginning researchers who wish to develop deeper insights into how discontinuous fibre provides reinforcement to composites, and for engineers, particularly those who wish to apply the concepts presented here to design and develop discontinuous-fibre reinforced composites.
Discontinuous fiber-reinforced polymers have gained importance in transportation industries due to their outstanding material properties, lower manufacturing costs and superior lightweight characteristics. One of the most attractive attributes of discontinuous fiber-reinforced composites is the ease with which they can be manufactured in large numbers, using injection and compression molding processes. The main aim of this Special Issue is to collect various investigations focused on the processing of discontinuous fiber-reinforced composites and the effect that processing has on fiber orientation, fiber length and fiber density distributions throughout the final product. Papers presenting investigations on the effect that fiber configurations have on the mechanical properties of the final composite products and materials were welcome in the Special Issue. Researchers who model and simulate processes involving discontinuous fiber composites as well as those performing experimental studies involving these composites were welcomed to submit papers. The authors were encouraged to present new models, constitutive laws, and measuring and monitoring techniques to provide a complete framework on these groundbreaking materials and to facilitate their use in different engineering applications.
There are many books on composite material analysis, but most cover mainly continuous fiber materials, rather than those filled with discontinuous fibers, which are particularly attractive for large-volume and low-cost applications. This book provides the theoretical and practical background to design and use discontinuous fiber-reinforced polymer materials, with an emphasis on structural parts for the automotive industry. Moreover, the product of years of collaborative work between industry and academia is presented in an easy-to-use, comprehensive manner. The information provided makes it possible for someone with an engineering background to understand the micromechanics of discontinuous fiber-reinforced materials and, hence, analyze the structural performance of components designed with such materials. The book employs a practical approach to cover the key, unique capabilities that are critical for a successful structural analysis of discontinuous fiber-reinforced polymer structures: -Process simulation to estimate the condition of fibers in the finished parts, i.e., fiber length, orientation, and concentration -Capability to measure micro structure, i.e., fiber length distribution, fiber orientation tensors, and fiber concentration, etc. -Estimation of material properties in the part based on fiber condition, as well as environmental conditions such as temperature A broad range of areas is included, such as joining and assembly.
There are many books on composite material analysis, but most cover mainly continuous fiber materials, rather than those filled with discontinuous fibers, which are particularly attractive for large-volume and low-cost applications. This book provides the theoretical and practical background to design and use discontinuous fiber reinforced polymer materials, with an emphasis on structural parts for the automotive industry. Moreover, the product of years of collaborative work between industry and academia is presented in an easy-to-use, comprehensive manner. The information provided makes it possible for someone with an engineering background to understand the micromechanics of discontinuous fiber reinforced materials and, hence, analyze the structural performance of components designed with such materials. The book employs a practical approach to cover the key, unique capabilities that are critical for a successful structural analysis of discontinuous fiber reinforced polymer structures: -Process simulation to estimate the condition of fibers in the finished parts, i.e., fiber length, orientation, and concentration -Capability to measure micro structure, i.e., fiber length distribution, fiber orientation tensors, and fiber concentration, etc. -Estimation of material properties in the part based on fiber condition, as well as environmental conditions such as temperature A broad range of areas is included, such as joining and assembly.
This monograph consists of two volumes and provides a unified, comprehensive presentation of the important topics pertaining to the understanding and determination of the mechanical behaviour of engineering materials under different regimes of loading. The large subject area is separated into eighteen chapters and four appendices, all self-contained, which give a complete picture and allow a thorough understanding of the current status and future direction of individual topics. Volume I contains eight chapters and three appendices, and concerns itself with the basic concepts pertaining to the entire monograph, together with the response behaviour of engineering materials under static and quasi-static loading. Thus, Volume I is dedicated to the introduction, the basic concepts and principles of the mechanical response of engineering materials, together with the relevant analysis of elastic, elastic-plastic, and viscoelastic behaviour. Volume II consists of ten chapters and one appendix, and concerns itself with the mechanical behaviour of various classes of materials under dynamic loading, together with the effects of local and microstructural phenomena on the response behaviour of the material. Volume II also contains selected topics concerning intelligent material systems, and pattern recognition and classification methodology for the characterization of material response states. The monograph contains a large number of illustrations, numerical examples and solved problems. The majority of chapters also contain a large number of review problems to challenge the reader. The monograph can be used as a textbook in science and engineering, for third and fourth undergraduate levels, as well as for the graduate levels. It is also a definitive reference work for scientists and engineers involved in the production, processing and applications of engineering materials, as well as for other professionals who are involved in the engineering design process.
Discontinuous long fiber reinforced polymer structures with local continuous fiber reinforcements represent an important class of lightweight materials with broad design possibilities and diverse technical applications, e.g. in vehicle construction. However, in contrast to continuous fiber reinforced composites, extensively used in the aircraft industry, there is still a lack of integrated and experimentally proven concepts for manufacture, modeling, and dimensioning of combinations of discontinuously and continuously reinforced polymer structures. This is partly ascribed to the complexity of the manufacturing processes of discontinuously reinforced polymers, with heterogeneous, anisotropic, and nonlinear material and structural properties, but also to the resulting bonding problem of both material types. This book addresses these issues, including both continuous and discontinuous fiber processing strategies. Specific design strategies for advanced composite reinforcement strategies are provided, with an integrated and holistic approach taken for composites material selection, product design, and mechanical properties. Characterization, simulation, technology, design, future research, and implementation directions are also included. Especially in the field of application of three-dimensional load-bearing structures, this book provides an excellent foundation for the enhancement of scientific methods and the education of engineers who need an interdisciplinary understanding of process and material techniques, as well as simulation and product development methods.
