Composite Engineering Laminates

Composite materials are combinations or fabrications of several materials acting in concert, often called upon to provide properties unattainable by the constituents acting alone. Their combined action is frequently of a different order of magnitude, or quite different in character, from the behavior of the constituents. The components may be selected from the same basic material or from different materials.

Thoroughly covering the extensive and rapid development of the field of composite laminates over the last twenty years, the major portion of this work consists of new contributions. Where still applicable, some parts of an earlier book on the subject have been incorporated in the text.

The emphasis of this work on laminates is on composites which are useful from an engineering standpoint and which differ significantly in their new properties of the original constituents. Beginning with a general theoretical description of the structural properties of these materials, the book contains sixteen chapters each written by a specialist in the particular area covered.

Specific composites such as reinforced plastics, laminated glass, plywood, laminated timbers, fiber-structural sandwiches (composites of lightweight cores and denser, stronger skins), thermostat metals, laminates of aluminum alloys, stainless-steel-clad metals, nonferrous-clad plate steels, hard-surfaced layers on metals produced by welding, flame-sprayed coatings, and glassed steel are treated. Where it is necessary to clarify the engineering application of the material, the manufacturing and fabricating procedures are discussed; particular applications and economics are also included when these elements are linked to the principal function of the subject matter which is the exposition of engineering aspects. Certain surfaced materials (plated, galvanized, and other similar thinly coated materials) in which the surface is essentially only a protective coating, are not treated. Illustrations, tables, bibliography, index.