Unit information: Mechanics of Composite Materials in 2019/20

Unit name	Mechanics of Composite Materials
Unit code	AENGM0053
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Ivanov
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	For students with no engineering background: elements of elasticity theory and introductory knowledge of mechanics of materials covered in Structural Analysis and Advanced Composite Materials.
School/department	Department of Aerospace Engineering
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

This unit aims at developing a fundamental understanding of the mechanical performance of composites through modelling of materials and stiffness properties at various scales using micromechanics and laminate theories, and through experimental characterisation, and data acquisition and analysis. Students acquire practical skills for composite analysis and composite materials testing.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:

1. Design and set up experiments for composite property identification.
2. Perform measurements using various strain measurement techniques and process experimental data.
3. Calculate effective properties of composites using a range of theories.
4. Assess damage and failure mechanisms in characteristic loadings.
5. Perform numerical analysis of composite samples / simple composite structures and validate simulations based on appropriate numerical approaches.

Teaching Information

The unit will comprise lectures, seminars, experimental tutorials, finite element computer labs, practical sessions and numerical simulations. These sessions are not assessed but support student development in all the aspects of the course and prepare them for completing the assignment.

Assessment Information

The assessment for the unit is a 15-minute presentation (20%) and a report (80%) in a form of extended presentation slides (no page limit) comprising experimental results, numerical models of experiments and analytical estimates of material effective properties and internal stresses.

The report needs to demonstrate all the ILO’s of the unit, in an extensive analysis covering selected tests.

Reading and References

• Process and Mechanical Modelling of Engineering Composites, A. Pickett, 2018
• Polymer Composites in the Aerospace Industry, P.E. Irving and C. Soutis, Editors. 2015,
• Elsevier Woodhead: Cambridge. Micromechanics of Composite Materials, Aboudi J., Arnold S.M., Bednarcyk B.A., Elsevier, 2013
• Appropriate journal paper references are supplied on the lectures for each component of the course.