Advanced Composite and Adaptive Material Systems

Lecturer(s)

Prof. U. Meier, Dr. O. Beffort and Dr. F. Clemens

Hour(s) of lecture(s), exercise(s) and credit points

2L
2E
4CP

Teaching goals

This course aims to satisfy the need for materials scientists to work in a wide range of advanced composite and adaptive material systems. Emphasis is placed on developing advanced knowledge and understanding of their design, manufacturing, structure and properties, characterisation and applications.

Summary and outline

The course will comprise a balance of lectures, tutorials, problem solving and laboratory classes. In addition, case study site visits will be made for certain topics to illustrate the industrial application of particular technologies.

There will be a discussion of a variety of process technologies, the thermal management of metal matrix composites (MMCs), thermo-physical properties of MMCs, development of Al/diamond composites, fiber production, rheology, fiber classification, smart materials, types of sensors and actuators, ceramic fiber production, elements of closed loop adaptive systems, active fibre composites (AFC) and electro active polymers (EAP).

Emphasis is given on the underlying science of a particular process rather than a detailed description of the technique or equipment. Manufacturing of active fibre composites (AFC) and actuators driven by electro active polymers (EAP) in laboratory classes will be performed. Case studies and examples drawn from structural and functional applications of advanced composite and adaptive material systems will be demonstrated.

Literature

Composite Materials: Engineering and Science by F. L. Matthews, R. D. Rawlings ISBN: 084930251X, Format: Paperback, 460pp, 1999, Publisher: CRC Press

Adaptronics and smart structures : basics, materials, design, and applications by H. Janocha (ed.). Publisher Berlin ; New York: Springer, c1999.

Smart structures : analysis and design by A.V. Srinivasan, D. Michael McFarland. Cambridge, U.K. ; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001.