Chapter-2

COMPOSITE MATERIALS
2.1 COMPOSITE THEORY
2.1.1 Definition of composite
Composites are formed from two or more types of materials. Examples include
polymer/ceramic and metal/ceramic composites.
Composites are used because overall properties of the composites are superior to
those of the individualcomponents. For example: polymer/ceramic composites have a greater
modulus than the polymer component, but arent as brittle as ceramics. Two types of
composites are :

Fiber Reinforced composites.

Particle Reinforced composites.

2.1.2 Fiber composites:

A composite material is a fiber composite if the reinforcement is in the form of fibers.
The fibers used are either continuous or discontinuous in form, chopped fiber, short fiber ,
etc. The arrangement of fibres and either orientation allow used to tailor the mechanical
properties of composites to obtain materials ranging from strongly anisotropic to isotropic in
the plane. Designers thus have in a composites a tailoring material in which they can
modify and tailor the physical and mechanical behavior by adjusting:

The nature of the constituents

The proportions of the constituents
The orientation of the fibre

2.1.3 Types of Fiber Reinforced Composites:

Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics (GFRP)

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP)

Aramid Fiber Reinforce Plastics (AFRP)

2.1.4 Particle Composites:

A composite material is a particle composite when the reinforcement is made of
particles. A particle, in contrast to fibers, does not have a privileged direction.
2.1.5 Classification by the nature of constituents:

Organic matrix composites

Metallic matrix composite and
Mineral matrix composite

In organic matrix composites (polymer resins with fillers) consists of,

Mineral fibers: glass, carbon Kevlar etc.

Organic fibers: Kevlar, polyamide etc.
Metallic fibers: boron, aluminum, etc.

A composite material is constituted by a matrix and a reinforcement consisting of fibers. The

matrix itself comprises a resin (polyester, epoxide,etc) and fillers, the goal of which is to
improve the characteristics of the resin while reducing the production cost. Its also transmits
external mechanical loads to the fiber and is used to protect the fiber against external attack.
The reinforcement brings to the composite material its greater mechanical performance. The
type of reinforcement matrix association depends upon the constraints imposed on the
designers: high mechanical characteristics, good thermal stability, cost, resistance to
corrosion, etc.
2.1.6 Resin Systems:
The resins used in composite materials have the role of transferring in mechanical
loadings to the fibers and to protect them from the outside environment. The resins must
therefore be quite flexible and offer good compatibility with the fibers. In addition they must
have a low density to keep in the composites high specific mechanical characteristics.

Thermosetting resins can be processed only once. In fact, after polymerization by

applying heat in the presence of a catalyst, these resins lead to a geometric structure that can
be destroyed only once by a considerable application of thermal energy. Thus thermosetting
resins have mechanical properties and especially higher thermo mechanical ones than those
of thermoplastic resins. Due to higher characteristics, thermosetting resins are mostly used in
the manufacture of composite materials.
The principal thermosetting resins used in manufacturing composite materials are, in
order of decreasing tonnage:

Unsaturated polyester resins: condensed polyesters, vinyl esters, allelic derivatives,

etc.
Condensation resins: phenolics, aminoplasts, furans, etc.
Epoxide resins.

2.2 CLASSICAL LAMINATE THEORY

2.2.1 Assumptions Of Lamination Theory
The following are the assumptions fundamental to lamination theory:
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The laminate consists of perfectly bonded layers (laminae).

Each layer is a homogenous material with known effective properties.
Individual layer properties can be isotropic, orthotropic, or transversely isotropic.
Each layer is in a state of plane stress.
The plate consists of orthotropic laminae bonded together, with the principal material
axes of the orthotropic laminae oriented along arbitrary directions with respect to the

xy axes
The thickness of the plate, t, is much smaller than the lengths along the plate edges, a

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and b
The displacements u,v and w are small compared with the plate thickness.
The in-plane strains x, y and xy are small compared with unity.
Transverse shear srains xz and yz are negligible.
Tangential displacements u and v are linear functions of the z coordinate.
Each ply obey hookes law.
The plate thickness t is constant.
Transverse shear stresses xz , yz vanish on the plate surfaces defined by z = t/2