IntroductiontoCompositesInstructorNotes-ElCamino.docVIP

Introduction to Composites Instructor Notes This module, Introduction to Composites, is one of a series of modules designed to present subject matter of interest to engineering and technology students. It is designed to be used with college freshman and sophomore students in a variety of courses. This work was funded by a National Science Foundation grant entitled “Advanced Aerospace Manufacturing Education Project” (NSF Award #0603221). The content of this course uses examples in aerospace manufacturing to introduce students to some of the challenges in this industry segment. Learning Objectives: At the conclusion students will be able to Demonstrate an understanding of the construction of composites, Demonstrate the ability to search manufacturers literature for processing parameters Explain how composite parts are made Describe automation of the composite manufacturing process Explain how composites perform differently than metals, and why Prerequisites – None. If used in a materials science course this material should be presented after metals for comparison purposes. Slide notes: Title Slide Contents Composites are used in many types of products. For example, decking materials used in home construction are frequently constructed of composite materials manufactured from wood and plastic. Composites are also not a new idea. The ancient Greeks used composite structures in their personal armor (see the referenced YouTube video). This module will focus on the segment of composites that is referred to as “high performance composites” and specifically fiber reinforced plastics. This includes most aerospace structural and non- structural applications, as well as things such as golf club shafts, and Corvette and Viper automobile bodies. FRP’s (fiber reinforced plastics) consist of fibers encased in a plastic matrix. These fibers are typically 0.0002 inch to 0.0008 inch in diameter. Fibers can be separated into 2 groups by length. Short, or staple, fibers are fibe