This page should be read in conjunction with the Guidance on Coursework:

• Access to the Composites Laboratory (Brunel 007)
• Coursework submission
• Effort
• General requirements for each classification of an honours degree
• Information
• Literature review
• Plagiarism
• Referencing the work of others
• Risk assessments
• Sampling

Report format

For guidance on report writing, see:

• the Technical Report writing guide 2009-10

For the composites design and manufacture coursework, here is a recommended report format with some notes to help you avoid errors which students have made in previous years:

• Title page
  • a single page with a title, the module code and name, the author name and course and the date the report was completed.
• Abstract
  • one page to summarise what was studied and the outcomes of the work.
• Acknowledgements
  • the technicians in Brunel 007 are Richard Cullen and Greg Nash.
  • the technicians in Smeaton 001 are Richard Cullen, Greg Nash and Terry Richards.
  • the manager and technicians in the Electron Microscope Centre are Roy Moate, Pete Bond and Glenn Harper respectively.
• Contents
  • a list of each of the main headings here (and any further headings or sub-headings you create) with page numbers.
• Nomenclature (optional)
  • an alphabetical list of symbols used, especially when the report contains a number of equations.
• List of Figures
  • all CAD models, line drawings, graphs, photographs, sketches and other images should be listed as Figures and numbered consecutively.
  • every Figure should have a meaningful text description, e.g. Figure 1: Schematic of the resin infusion process
• List of Tables
  • all data presented as rows and columns should be listed as Tables and numbered consecutively.
  • every Table should have a meaningful text description, e.g. Table 1: The dimensions of the composite test samples and their fibre volume fractions.
  • when appropriate, each cell of a table should have a mean value and a standard deviation(for example "247.9 ± 35.8")
• List of Appendices
• Introduction - a review of the pertinent literature, for example:
• Paragraph on composites (3-5 references).
• Paragraph on manufacturing processes (3-5 references).
• Paragraph on mechanical testing (3-5 references).
• Paragraph on microstructural characterisation (3-5 references).
• Paragraph explaining the assignment with aims and objectives.
• Theory (optional)
  • The development of equations which would otherwise reduce the readability of the report.
• Experimental procedures - for example:
  • Composites plates were manufactured by resin infusion with a flow medium according to the procedure described in Appendix A with (conditions) on the day and using (see summary e-mail, plus?) materials.
    The plates were post-cured using (cure cycle) and subjected to mechanical testing according to the procedures described in Appendix B with (conditions) on the day on an Instron nnnn machine (serial number) with nn kN loadcell (serial number and calibration) with (appropriate parameters such as cross-head speed).
    Plates were examined to understand the microstructure and fracture surfaces using optical and electron microscopes.
    Report any additional study undertaken, e.g. determination of fibre and void volume fractions? A COSHH assessment (Sicomin SR8100 epoxy resin system product and materials safety data sheets) is included at Appendix C with risk assessments included at Appendix D.
• Results
• Summary Tables of mean values and standard deviations (for example "247.9 ± 35.8") for data
  • all data should be reduced to ~3 significant figures (i.e. 1.23 not 1.23456789 .. or .. 0.123 not 0.123456789) when presented in the report.  Adjust the units used to give numbers between 0.001 and 999.
  • spreadsheets of the full dataset, and any sample calculations, should be in Appendices.
  • Tables might include:
    • Plate number, fibre, stacking sequence, atmospheric pressure, vacuum achieved, net pressure, leak rate, mean thickness, fibre volume fraction.
    • Plate number, fibre, stacking sequence, fibre volume fraction, flexural modulus, flexural strength, flexural failure modes, interlaminar shear strength, ILSS failure modes.
• When discussing variability between different sets of data, use the coefficient of variation = standard deviation/mean.
• How thick (mean and range/standard deviation) are the samples?
• Using the Vf vs no.plies equation, what is the actual Vf achieved in the laminates produced?
• Using R-O-M/laminate analysis work out an elastic modulus?
• Calculate effective moduli, strength and ILSS for each specimen?
• Discussion - THIS IS THE IMPORTANT BIT:
• Are any of the assumptions in the analysis violated?
• Do the plates look like good composites?
• How consistent is plate thickness – correlation to applied pressure (remember that the net pressure the laminate sees is atmospheric minus bag values)?
• Do the measured mechanical properties align with calculated values?
• How close are Vf, Vv, Ef, σ' and ILSS between samples of similar configuration?
• Failure modes (using optical/electron microscopy)?
• Scope here for reporting any additional analysis, e.g. microscopy to look at fibre distribution and void content.
• Conclusions
• Do not introduce new material here.
• This must be a summary of key points from the discussion (one page or ~ five bullet points).
• References
• Bibliography (not recommended)
  • If you have read something in preparing the report and it does not justify citing it as a reference, then put it down to personal development but don't list it in the report!
• Appendices
• Appendix A: Experimental procedure for resin infusion
• Appendix B: Mechanical testing of composite samples
• Appendix C: COSHH assessment of any chemicals used
• Appendix D: Risk Assessments
• Appendix E: Load deflection curves from the mechanical tests
• Appendix F: Data tables for mechanical tests
• Appendix G: Microstructural and fractographic images from optical and electron microscopes.

If you use Appendices, Equations, Figures or Tables you should:

• refer to them in the text using an initial capital letter
• give them a meaningful caption
• IMPORTANT: indicate the source, unless you have personally created the Appendix/Equation/Figure/Table, to ensure no-one can level an accusation of plagiarism at you!!

And finally, most word processors have a Spell and Grammar Checker - use it please!