Polymer-Based Composites for Application in Harsh Environments

Polymer-based Composites for Application in Harsh Environments: Design, Repair and Structural Monitoring is focused on the new development of fibre reinforced polymer-based composites (known as "advanced composites") and their application and use in harsh environments. Recently, due to global environmental concerns, the use of advanced composites for different primary and secondary structural components has increased in the automotive, civil, aircraft and aerospace...
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Polymer-based Composites for Application in Harsh Environments: Design, Repair and Structural Monitoring is focused on the new development of fibre reinforced polymer-based composites (known as "advanced composites") and their application and use in harsh environments. Recently, due to global environmental concerns, the use of advanced composites for different primary and secondary structural components has increased in the automotive, civil, aircraft and aerospace engineering industries. This has triggered more emphasis on their reliability and compliance of services in different harsh conditions, such as low temperature, high intensity of ultra-violet (UV) exposure, and low pressure.  Thermal-mechanical fatigue is also a key factor. Structures also need to be designed to be easily degradable, and thus greatly shorten their pre-determined service life. Another subsequent issue, which is now also affecting the aircraft industry, is the design and control of efficient repair procedures and processes, in which the mechanical and structural performance of repaired structures can be attained to the condition of undamaged structures. Modern non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques need to be introduced to examine the quality and condition of repairs. In view of the importance of these aforementioned issues, the book focuses on three key aspects to provide readers with a comprehensive review on how to handle the new generation of modern structural materials. These include i) the design of advanced composites for different harsh environments by using nano-fillers to improve their properties; ii) the design of composite repair technologies to improve the efficiency and quality of repairs and iii) the introduction of modern NDE technologies for examining the quality and properties of repaired composite structures.

• Exclusively focuses on the use of composites in different harsh environments with due consideration on follow-up repair and inspection processes
• Discusses key factors that should be considered during the design stage, when using polymer-based composites in harsh environments via case studies in real-life applications
• Provides an insight for master's degree students and above to better understand the properties of composite materials opening up new topics in composite materials research