Mechanics of Composite Structural Elements

This second edition of the textbook presents a systematic introduction to the structural mechanics of composite components. The book focusses on modeling and calculation of sandwiches and laminated composites i.e. anisotropic material. The new edition includes an additional chapter covering the latest advances in both research and applications, which are highly relevant for readers. The textbook is written for use not only in engineering curricula of aerospace, civil and mechanical engineering, but also for materials science and applied mechanics. Furthermore, it addresses practicing engineers and researchers. No prior knowledge of composite materials and structures is required for the understanding of its content. The book is close to classical courses of Strength of Materials and Theory of Beams, Plates and Shells but it extends the classic content on two topics: the linear elastic material behavior of isotropic and non-isotropic structural elements, and inhomogeneous material properties in the thickness direction. The Finite Element Analysis of laminate and sandwich structures is briefly presented. Many solved examples illustrate the application of the techniques learned.

 1. Classification of Composite Materials.- 2. Linear Anisotropic Materials.- 3. Effective Material Moduli for Composites.- 4. Elastic Behavior of Laminate and Sandwich Composites.- 5. Classical and Improved Theories.- 6. Failure Mechanisms and Criteria.- 7. Modelling and Analysis of Beams.- 8. Modelling and Analysis of Plates.- 9. Modelling and Analysis of Circular Cylindrical Shells.- 10. Modelling and Analysis of Thin-walled Folded Structures.- 11. Finite Element Analysis.- A. Matrix Operations.- B. Stress and strain transformations.- C. Differential Operators for Rectangular Plates (Classical Plate Theory).- D. Differential Operators for Rectangular Plates (Shear Deformation Theory).- E. Differential Operators for Circular Cylindrical shells (Classical Shell Theory).- F. Differential Operators for Circular Cylindrical Shells (Shear Deformation Theory).- G. Solution Forms of the Differential Equation .- H. Material's properties.- I. References.