Question

State advances in technology for high performance of composites

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

In the four years since the previous review [Vinson(1)] composite materials and their use in structures have grown and matured considerably. In addition to the continuous & short fibre and particulate composites, there has been much progress in the areas of sheet moulding compounds, woven fabric & three dimensional composites and braided composites employing many of the same fibre materials. New thermoplastic polymers show real promise and progress in metal matrix composites has been made.

The analysis of composite material structures subjected to static, vibratory, impact, environmental and long time loading continues to progress. Important effects such as creep, viscoelasticity, damping, postbuckling behaviour and delamination are better understood. However, strength and failure criteria remain areas that need much further investigation and agreement.

There has been a rapid increase in simpler-to-use computer codes that are available from the government and universities that ease structural-material analysis and provide more comprehensive descriptions of structural behaviour.

In education concerning composite materials, new textbooks have appeared, more universities and organisations are offering courses, and there is a trend of migration of professors to those institutions where composite material research is emphasised. Technology transfer and export controls have had an increasing affect upon the composite materials community, particularly with regard to metal matrix composites. These manifest themselves in sponsored research, both at universities and international meetings.

In the aerospace industry, all composite aircraft such as the Sikorsky ACAP helicopter have been developed. The Grumman X-29 Forward swept wing aircraft will fly soon. New turbine engines using more composite materials are under study, as well as increased use of composites in many aircraft and spacecraft vehicles. Composites in the automotive and leisure industries continue on the increase. With increased volume of use and better methods of computer assisted design, analysis and manufacturing, application of composites will extend to other areas such as mass transport.