Author: E S Greenhalgh

Published On: September 2009

Publisher: Woodhead Publishing Ltd

Price: £155.00 / US$295.00 / €195.00

Write-up:
Failure Analysis and Fractography of Polymer Composites,
• examines the study of fracture surface morphologies in understanding composite structural behaviour
• discusses composites research and post-modern analysis of failed or crashed polymer composite components
• provides an overview of damage mechanisms, types of defect and failure criteria
• reviews the methodology and tools used for failure analysis and fractography

The growing use of polymer composites is leading to increasing demand for fractographic expertise. Fractography is the study of fracture surface morphologies and it gives an insight into damage and failure mechanisms, underpinning the development of physically-based failure criteria. In composites research, it provides a crucial link between predictive models and experimental observations. Finally, it is vital for post-mortem analysis of failed or crashed polymer composite components, the findings of which can be used to optimise future designs.

Failure analysis and fractography of polymer composites covers the following topics: Methodology and tools for failure analysis; Fibre-dominated failures; Delamination-dominated failures; Fatigue failures; The influence of fibre architecture on failure; Types of defect and damage; Case studies of failures due to overload and design deficiencies; Case studies of failures due to material and manufacturing defects and Case studies of failures due to in-service factors.

With its distinguished author, Failure analysis and fractography of polymer composites is a standard reference text for researchers working on damage and failure mechanisms in composites, engineers characterising manufacturing and in-service defects in composite structures, and investigators undertaking post-mortem failure analysis of components. The book is aimed at both academic and industrial users, specifically final year and post-graduate engineering and materials students researching composites and industry designers and engineers in aerospace, civil, marine, power and transport applications.