Composites Engineering (BEng) - MATS 320 Subject index to JS' web pages
Review papers on composites technology

Definitive Module Record (DMR) for MATS 320: assessment is 0% examination and 100% coursework.
This module integrates the learning from the Composites Design and Manufacture ..and.. Quality Management II modules in a
  practical assignment to specify, design, manufacture, test and report on a prototype composite component.
The modules MATS 320, MATS 324 and MFRG 310 are the specific components of the Composite Materials Engineering pathway.
Subject Index to assist in finding specific resources.

The components considered in this module (and in MATS304 Composite Applications until AY2000/2001) were:

 1997/1998 mountain bike suspension arm
 1998/1999 bicycle front forks
 1999/2000 yacht winch handle
 2000/2001 skaters trolley
 2001/2002 launching trolley for a dinghy
 2002/2003 man-portable bridge
 2003/2004 in-situ repair of a welded T-joint in an oiltank
 2004/2005 yacht mast spreader
 2005/2006 a crutch for a disabled table-tennis player
 2006/2007 (a) car spoiler, (b) cross bow limb (published in Composites Part B: Engineering)
 2007/2008 legs for a bipedal robot
 2008/2009 kite-surf board
 2009/2010 (a/b) bicycle crank, (c) luge board
 2010/2011 (a) gas turbine blade, (b) ice-axe handle, (c) recreational helmet.
 2011/2012 bridge span of 584 mm with 100 mm square maximum cross-section.

Factlets:

  • Alain Giocosa (Renault Guyancourt) in a Keynote Address (FPCM-8, Douai - France, 13 July 2006) suggested that each 100 kg saved in a passenger car translates to a fuel saving of 4 litres/1000 km.
  • Costas Soutis (University of Sheffield) in Plastics, Rubber and Composites, 2009, 38(9/10), 359-366 states that "1 kg weight reduction saves over 2900L fuel per year" in the context of the Airbus A320.

HEALTH & SAFETY
It is important that all students are aware of the Health and Safety considerations for this module.  You will be required to attend the Health and Safety presentation and to sign to confirm that you have done so before you will be allowed to use the facilities in the ACMC laboratory (Brunel 007). This support material can be accessed online


SAFETY FACTORS

CONDITIONFACTORREFERENCE
Static short-term loads (construction industry)21
Static long-term loads (construction industry)41
Variable/changing loads (construction industry)41
Repeated loads (construction industry)61
Fatigue or load-reversal (construction industry)61
Impact loads repeated (construction industry)101
Composite manufacture by handwork1.52
Composite manufacture by machine controlled spray application1.52
Composite manufacture by hand-held spray application32
Composite chemical pressure vessel with a thermoplastic liner1.22
Composite chemical pressure vessel without a thermoplastic linerup to 22
Composite operating temperature (dependent on HDT)1.0-1.252
Composite post-cure to manufacturers specification1.12
Composite for operation up to 45ºC1.32
Composite for operation over 45ºC1.32
References
  1. SM Halliwell, Polymer composites in construction, Construction Research Communications Limited by permission of Building Research Establishment Limited, Watford/London, 2000. ISBN 1-86081-429-8.
  2. BS 4994:1987 Design and construction of vessels and tanks in reinforced plastics

Recommended reading:

  • MF Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design,
    Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1992. ISBN 0-08-041907-0. UoP Library
  • Daniel C Smoot and A Brent Strong, Product and Process Innovation - a review
    Journal of Advanced Materials, April 2006, 38(2), 64-79.  UOP Library 
  • A Brent Strong, Composites in Manufacturing - Case Studies,
    Society of Manufacturing Engineers, 1991.  ISBN 0-87263-406-x.  UoP Library
  • JFV Vincent, OA Bogatyreva, NR Bogatyrev, A Bowyer and A-K Pahl, Biomimetics: its practice and theory
    Journal of the Royal Society - Interface (online).  Supplementary materials: Appendix 1: Altshuller’s 40 Inventive Principles with biological examples
    Appendix 2: Apportioning Altshuller’s conflict features and inventive principles to the PRIZM categories.
    Appendix 3: Examples of functions at various size scales in biology and technology.

Cost comparisons


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Created by John Summerscales on 03 January 2006 and updated on 06 March 2012 09:25. Terms and conditions. Errors and omissions. Corrections.