Literature review on imperfection of composite laminatedplates

What is it about?

tA composite material can be defined as a combination of two or more materials that givesbetter properties than those of the individual components used alone. In contrast to metal-lic alloys, each material retains its separate chemical, physical, and mechanical properties.The two constituents are reinforcement and a matrix. The main advantages of compositematerials are their high strength and stiffness combined with low density when comparedto classical materials. Micromechanical approach is found to be more suitable for the anal-ysis of composite materials because it studies the volume proportions of the constituentsfor the desired lamina stiffness and strength.It is found that the manufacturing processes are responsible of many defects which mayarise in fibers, matrix and lamina. These defects, if they exist include misalignment of fibers,cracks in matrix, non uniform distribution of the fibers in the matrix, voids in fibers andmatrix, delaminated regions, and initial stress in the lamina as a result of its manufactureand further treatment.The above mentioned defects tend to propagate as the lamina is loaded causing an accel-erated rate of failure. The experimental and theoretical results in this case tend to differ.Hence, due to the limitations necessary in the idealization of the lamina components, theproperties estimated should be proved experimentally.

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Why is it important?

IntroductionComposites were first considered as structural materi-als a little more than half a century ago. From that time tonow, they have received increasing attention in all aspectsof material science, manufacturing technology, and theo-retical analysis.The term composite could mean almost anything iftaken at face value, since all materials are composites of dis-similar subunits if examined at close enough details. But inmodern materials engineering, the term usually refers to aE-mail address: osamamm64@gmail.commatrix material that is reinforced with fibers. For instance,the term “FRP” which refers to Fiber Reinforced Plastic usu-ally indicates a thermosetting polyester matrix containingglass fibers, and this particular composite has the lion’sshare of today commercial market.Many composites used today are at the leading edge ofmaterials technology, with performance and costs appro-priate to ultra-demanding applications such as space craft.But heterogeneous materials combining the best aspects ofdissimilar constituents have been used by nature for mil-lions of years. Ancient societies, imitating nature, used thisapproach as well: The book of Exodus speaks of using strawto reinforce mud in brick making, without which the brickswould have almost no strength

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