Composite Structural Materials.

The longstanding technological demand for improved performance in materials continues unabated. In fact, the promise of more than a decade in filamentary composite materials has generated intense interest. Such interest is well founded, having been generated by the possibility of using brittle materials with high modulus, high strength, but low density in composites which fail in a non-catastrophic manner. Such fiber reinforced composite materials offer substantially improved performance and potentially lower costs for aerospace hardware. Fulfilling the promise of composite materials, however, requires a strong technology base. NASA and AFOSR have realized that to fully exploit composites in sophisticated aerospace structures the technology base must be improved. This, in turn, calls for expanding fundamental knowledge and the means by which it can be successfully applied in design and manufacture. It also calls for expanding the body of engineers and scientists competent in these areas. As part of their approach to accomplishing this, NASA and AFOSR have funded the current composites program at Rensselaer. The purpose of the RPI composites program is to develop advanced technology in the areas of physical properties, structural concepts and analysis, manufacturing, reliability and life prediction. MM