AIM

Many composite structures encounter damage, which needs to be identified and assessed, and a decision to repair made. Repair may be advantageous in terms of cost and/or faster return to service. It may also be a more sustainable option versus replacement. This webinar is an introduction to repair of composite structures. It will start with ... Read more

Polymer matrix composites exhibit viscoelastic behaviour that may affect the long-term performance of the composite structure. Viscoelastic materials display energy dissipation and a memory effect meaning that past mechanical and thermal loads will alter the material. The determination of the material properties and the prediction of their long-term response requires a range of experimental, computational, ... Read more

The majority of parts composed of composite materials are joined with other parts before becoming the final product. Adhesive bonding is a common method of joining composites as it can be strong, quick, cost effective, and reliable, with minimal weight addition. An introduction to bonding composite materials will be presented in this two-part webinar series. ... Read more

The majority of parts composed of composite materials are joined with other parts before becoming the final product. Adhesive bonding is a common method of joining composites as it can be strong, quick, cost effective, and reliable, with minimal weight addition. An introduction to bonding composite materials will be presented in this two-part webinar series. ... Read more

Sandwich structures (sandwich panels) are excellent for applications that benefit from high strength to weight ratios. They find themselves in a variety of applications in aerospace, marine, automotive, wind energy, and other industries. A previous webinar, Introduction to Sandwich Structures – Materials and Processing (https://compositeskn.org/KPC/A322) provided an introduction and overview of sandwich structures. This upcoming ... Read more

A composite part requires some form of tooling to take shape during the curing or crystallization process. The tooling will also assist in the deposition and alignment of fibre as well as provide the surface finish of the part. Tooling must be able to stand up to the processing requirements such as temperature and pressure ... Read more

It was thought that the use of composite materials would lead to a net positive environmental impact through their use in aircraft, wind turbines, and hydrogen pressure vessels, among other applications. The reality is that most manufacturing practices used to produce these composite parts are highly inefficient, producing copious amounts of waste for which we ... Read more

Composite materials inherently contain defects, which introduce variability and often restrict their mechanical properties. Among these defects, porosity is one of the most prevalent and can negatively affect both the structural integrity and aesthetics of the material. The presence and extent of porosity are largely determined by processing parameters. Previously, we presented a comprehensive list ... Read more

Defects are inherent in composite materials. They are a source of variability and often become the limiting factor of mechanical properties. Porosity is one of the most common defects found in composite materials. It can compromise the structural integrity and negatively affect aesthetics. It’s presence and extent are a direct outcome of processing parameters. In ... Read more

Pultrusion is an automated composite manufacturing process allowing the continuous production of constant cross-section beams. Pultrusion has been successfully used in the industry with thermoset polymers. The pultrusion of thermoplastic polymer composites, however, has not reached the same level of industrial penetration. This is mostly due to the high viscosity of melted thermoplastic polymers that ... Read more

High-fidelity prediction of the performance of composite structures is helpful for product development and is used increasingly more often by industry. The type of manufacturing process and process conditions will influence the material microstructure and induce defects, which will ultimately impact part performance. Liquid composite molding processes utilizing dry reinforcement fabrics and snap-cure liquid resins ... Read more

There are many approaches used to develop products. Products made from composite materials, however, are unique in that processing has a great effect on the outcome. This webinar will introduce the Knowledge in Practice Centre’s (KPC's) approach to composite product development. The development process for composites is an iterative cycle that requires careful consideration of ... Read more