Failure Analysis and Fractography of Polymer Composites

The growing use of polymer composites is leading to an increasing demand for fractographic expertise. Fractography is the study of fracture surface morphology and is an essential tool for advancing the understanding in composite structural behaviour. Failure analysis and fractography of polymer composites gives an insight into damage mechanisms and underpins the development of physically based failure criteria. It provides a vital link between predictive models and experimental observations. Finally, it is essential for post-mortem analysis of failed or crashed structures, the findings of which are used to optimise future designs. This authoritative work provides both an overview of the field and a reference text for engineers.

Key Features: examines the study of fracture surface morphologies in uderstanding composite structural behaviour; discusses composites research and post-modern analysis of failed or crashed polymer composite components; provides an overview of damage mechanisms, types of defect and failure criteria; reviews the methodology and tools used for failure analysis and fractography.

Contents: Introduction to failure analysis and fractography of polymer composites; Methodology and tools for failure analysis of polymer composites; Fibre-dominated failures in polymer composites; Delamination-dominated failures in polymer composites; Fatigue failures of polymer composites; The influence of fibre architecture in the failure of polymer composites; Defects and damage and their role in the failure of polymer composites; Case studies: failures of polymer composites due to overload and design deficiencies; Case studies: failures of polymer composites due to material and manufacturing defects; Case studies: failures of polymer composites due to in-service factors.