Lecture 1

Question 1

What is the use of the fibres and the matrix?

Answer 1

High mechanical properties along the length of the fibres. Matrix holds fibres in position, protects them from buckling, protects them from damage, enables stress transfer from fibre to fibre

Question 2

What are the benefits of composites for weight reduction

Answer 2

• High specific stiffness and strength
• Reduced fuel consumption
• Increased performance
• Improved weight distribution

Question 3

Durability Benefits

Answer 3

• Corrosion resistant
• Reduced maintenance
• Increased fatigue resistance

Question 4

Functionality Benefits

Answer 4

• Embedded sensors, electronics
  and cabling
• Good thermal insulators
• Electrical insulation for radar
  transparency

Question 5

Design Benefits

Answer 5

• Anisotropic material properties
• Greater design freedom
• Parts integration
• Wide range of materials and
  processes

Question 6

What are some material challenges?

Answer 6

High material costs
* Material variability
* Anisotropic properties
* Extensive testing required to characterise materials

Question 7

Manufacturing Challenges

Answer 7

Long cycle times – currently can’t compete with metals
* Many different manufacturing routes to choose from
* Difficult to automate – labour intensive processing
* Complex processing – many opportunities for mistakes!
* High material wastage

Question 8

Design Challenges

Answer 8

• Design tools not as well developed as for metals
• Known size and scale effects – properties not independent of size

Question 9

Recycling Challenges

Answer 9

Difficult to extract high value fibres
* Difficult to process recovered fibres
* Difficult to identify end of life materials due to different fibre/resin combinations (Fibres embedded within resin)