Preface to the second edition of mle The purpose of this text is to educate the engineering reader in the various aspects anics for using composite materials in the design and analysis of composite structures and product In Chapter I, the text acquaints the reader with the description of a composite material, and its constituents. Then, methods by which to manufacture composite materials are discussed, followed by a description of the uses of composite materials early in the twenty-first century. Chapter 2 provides the fundamentals of anisotropic elasticity, and the methods to characterize and mathematically describe composite laminae and laminates which are the building blocks"of composite structures. Also discussed are thermal, hygrothermal high strain rate and piezoelectric considerations in modern composites. Chapter 3 then deals exclusively with the static and dynamic response of composite plates and panels subjected to a variety of mechanical and environmental load in great detail. This includes stresses, deformations, buckling loads, natural frequencies d response to blast loads. Chapter 4 analogously treats a special case of the above, amely beams, columns and rods. In Chapter 5, cylindrical composite shells are discussed, both in determining the stresses and deformations due to static loads, but in treating the buckling of these shells under various loads and their combinations. The peculiar behavior of shells,(such as the bending boundary layer) compared to plates and beams is discussed in detail Because so many practical structural problems are too difficult or complex to structural design problems using energy principles and variational methods. Thus, the engineer can always obtain a solution to a problem Chapter 7 provides various strength and failure theories widely used today, and their comparison. Chapter 8 provides suggested ways to analyze and design adhesive bonded joints and mechanically fastened joints Chapter 9 has been added to provide a needed introduction to composite design Appendix I provides a discussion of micromechanics Appendix 2 list or most of the test standards for polymer matrix composite and Appendix 3 lists the mechanical properties of many composite in use today At the end of each chapter are numerous problems, which can be useful omework problems or modified for examination problems. Professors may contact authors for solutions to these problen student at the University of Delaware, who meticulously typed the text through its evolution. His accuracy, stamina and diligence are greatly appreciated. Appreciation is also expressed to Dr. Gregg Schoeppner for his contributions to Chapter I and the Appendices, and to Ms. Jill O Donnell for her manuscript readin Jack R. vinsonPreface to the Second Edition The purpose of this text is to educate the engineering reader in the various aspects of mechanics for using composite materials in the design and analysis of composite structures and products. In Chapter 1, the text acquaints the reader with the description of a composite material, and its constituents. Then, methods by which to manufacture composite materials are discussed, followed by a description of the uses of composite materials early in the twenty-first century. Chapter 2 provides the fundamentals of anisotropic elasticity, and the methods to characterize and mathematically describe composite laminae and laminates which are the “building blocks” of composite structures. Also discussed are thermal, hygrothermal, high strain rate and piezoelectric considerations in modern composites. Chapter 3 then deals exclusively with the static and dynamic response of composite plates and panels subjected to a variety of mechanical and environmental loads in great detail. This includes stresses, deformations, buckling loads, natural frequencies and response to blast loads. Chapter 4 analogously treats a special case of the above, namely beams, columns and rods. In Chapter 5, cylindrical composite shells are discussed, both in determining the stresses and deformations due to static loads, but in treating the buckling of these shells under various loads and their combinations. The peculiar behavior of shells, (such as the bending boundary layer) compared to plates and beams is discussed in detail. Because so many practical structural problems are too difficult or complex to obtain analytical solutions, Chapter 6 provides in-depth knowledge of attacking real life structural design problems using energy principles and variational methods. Thus, the engineer can always obtain a solution to a problem. Chapter 7 provides various strength and failure theories widely used today, and their comparison. Chapter 8 provides suggested ways to analyze and design adhesive bonded joints and mechanically fastened joints. Chapter 9 has been added to provide a needed introduction to composite design philosophy. Appendix 1 provides a discussion of micromechanics basics; Appendix 2 lists all or most of the test standards for polymer matrix composite and Appendix 3 lists the mechanical properties of many composite in use today. At the end of each chapter are numerous problems, which can be useful as homework problems or modified for examination problems. Professors may contact the authors for solutions to these problems. Appreciation is hereby expressed to James T. Arters, an engineering student at the University of Delaware, who meticulously typed the text through its evolution. His accuracy, stamina and diligence are greatly appreciated. Appreciation is also expressed to Dr. Gregg Schoeppner for his contributions to Chapter 1 and the Appendices, and to Ms. Jill O’Donnell for her manuscript reading. Jack R. Vinson Robert L. Sierakowski