During the production of fiber-reinforced thermosets, the resin material undergoes a reaction that can lead to damage. A two-stage polymerization reaction is modeled using molecular dynamics and evaluations of the system including a fiber surface are performed. In addition, a phase-field model for crack propagation in heterogeneous systems is derived. This model is able to predict crack growth where established models fail. Finally, the model is used to predict crack formation during curing.

This work presents a data mining framework applied to industrial heattreatment (bainitization and case hardening) aiming to optimize processes and reduce costs. The framework analyses factors such as material, production line, and quality assessment for preprocessing, feature extraction, and drift corrections. Machine learning is employed to devise robust prediction strategies for hardness. Its implementation in an industry pilot demonstrates the economic benefits of the framework. - This work presents a data mining framework applied to industrial heattreatment (bainitization and case hardening) aiming to optimize processes and reduce costs. The framework analyses factors such as material, production line, and quality assessment for preprocessing, feature extraction, and drift corrections. Machine learning is employed to devise robust prediction strategies for hardness. Its implementation in an industry pilot demonstrates the economic benefits of the framework.

This book addresses general information, good practices and examples about thermo-physical properties, thermo-kinetic and thermo-mechanical couplings, instrumentation in thermal science, thermal optimization and infrared radiation.

The study and application of composite materials are a truly interdisciplinary endeavour that has been enriched by contributions from chemistry, physics, materials science, mechanics and manufacturing engineering. The understanding of the interface (or interphase) in composites is the central point of this interdisciplinary effort. From the early development of composite materials of various nature, the optimization of the interface has been of major importance. While there are many reference books available on composite materials, few of them deal specifically with the science and mechanics of the interface of fiber reinforced composites. Further, many recent advances devoted solely to research in composite interfaces have been scattered in a variety of published literature and have yet to be assembled in a readily accessible form. To this end this book is an attempt to bring together recent developments in the field, both from the materials science and mechanics perspective, in a single convenient volume. The central theme of the book is tailoring the interface properties to optimise the mechanical peformance and structural integrity of composites with enhanced strength/stiffness and fracture toughness (or specific fracture resistance). It deals mainly with interfaces in advanced composites made from high performance fibers, such as glass, carbon, aramid, ultra high modulus polyethylene and some inorganic (e.g. B/W, A12O3, SiC) fibers, and matrix materials encompassing polymers, metals/alloys and ceramics. The book is intended to provide a comprehensive treatment of composite interfaces in such a way that it should be of interest to materials scientists, technologists and practising engineers, as well as graduate students and their supervisors in advanced composites. We hope that this book will also serve as a valuable source of reference to all those involved in the design and research of composite interfaces. The book contains eight chapters of discussions on microstructure-property relationships with underlying fundamental mechanics principles. In Chapter 1, an introduction is given to the nature and definition of interfaces in fiber reinforced composites. Chapter 2 is devoted to the mechanisms of adhesion which are specific to each fiber-matrix system, and the physio-chemical characterization of the interface with regard to the origin of adhesion. The experimental techniques that have been developed to assess the fiber-matrix interface bond quality on a microscopic scale are presented in Chapter 3, along with the techniques of measuring interlaminar/intralaminar strengths and fracture toughness using bulk composite laminates. The applicability and limitations associated with loading geometry and interpretation of test data are compared. Chapter 4 presents comprehensive theoretical analyses based on shear-lag models of the single fiber composite tests, with particular interest being placed on the interface debond process and the nature of the fiber-matrix interfacial bonding. Chapter 5 is devoted to reviewing current techniques of fiber surface treatments which have been devised to improve the bond strength and the fiber-matrix compatibility/stability during the manufacturing processes of composites. The micro-failure mechanisms and their associated theories of fracture toughness of composites are discussed in Chapter 6. The roles of the interface and its effects on the mechanical performance of fiber composites are addressed from several viewpoints. Recent research efforts to augment the transverse and interlaminar fracture toughness by means of controlled interfaces are presented in Chapters 7 and 8.

Composite materials are used as substitutions of metals/traditional materials in aerospace, automotive, civil, mechanical and other industries. The present book collects the current knowledge and recent developments in the characterization and application of composite materials. To this purpose the volume describes the outstanding properties of this class of advanced material which recommend it for various industrial applications.

Carbon fiber is an oft-referenced material that serves as a means to remove mass from large transport infrastructure. Carbon fiber composites, typically plastics reinforced with the carbon fibers, are key materials in the 21st century and have already had a significant impact on reducing CO2 emissions. Though, as with any composite material, the interface where each component meets, in this case the fiber and plastic, is critical to the overall performance. This text summarizes recent efforts to manipulate and optimize the interfacial interaction between these dissimilar materials to improve overall performance.

Finite element modelling of composite materials and structures provides an introduction to a technique which is increasingly being used as an analytical tool for composite materials.The text is presented in four parts: Part one sets the scene and reviews the fundamentals of composite materials together with the basic nature of FRP and its constituents. Two-dimensional stress-strain is covered, as is laminated plated theory and its limitations. Part two reviews the basic principles of FE analysis, starting with underlying theoretical issues and going on to show how elements are derived, a model is generated and results are processed. Part three builds on the basics of FE analysis and considers the particular issues that arise in applying finite elements to composites, especially to the layered nature of the material. Part four deals with the application of FE to FRP composites, presenting analytical models alongside FE representations. Specific issues addressed include interlaminar stresses, fracture delamination, joints and fatigue. This book is invaluable for students of materials science and engineering, and for engineers and others wishing to expand their knowledge of structural analysis. Covers important work on finite element analysis of composite material performance Based on material developed for an MSc course at Imperial College, London, UK Covers particular problems such as holes, free edges with FE results compared with experimental data and classical analysis