Integrated Design of Composite and Hybrid Structural Elements

Abstract

After the definition of the function of a structural element a first stress analysis is performed on an experimental or numerical model, where the material is assumed to be homogeneous and isotropic. On the basis of the results of that first analysis reinforcements are introduced in the regions where this is necessary in order to obtain sufficient strength and stiffness. The second analysis is performed on the thus obtained composite structural element. Further adaptations are made on shape, volume fraction of fibres, fibre orientation, type of fibres and matrix material. At a certain level of the design procedure the ideal reinforcement pattern must be replaced by an approximate one based on the possible processing techniques. A final sequence of tests on the approximate hybrid structural element must be made in order to verify the agreement of the result with design conditions.