Adhesives
Composites for repair (2015)
Composites now offer a cost-effective means repair and/or strengthen structures made of steel, concrete or other materials.
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Tooling (2015)
Composite parts are formed in molds, also known as tools. Tools can be made from virtually any material. The material type, shape and complexity depend upon the part and length of production run. Here's a short summary of the issues involved in electing and making tools.
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The matrix (2015)
The matrix binds the fiber reinforcement, gives the composite component its shape and determines its surface quality. A composite matrix may be a polymer, ceramic, metal or carbon. Here's a guide to selection.
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Fabrication methods (2015)
There are numerous methods for fabricating composite components. Selection of a method for a particular part, therefore, will depend on the materials, the part design and end-use or application. Here's a guide to selection.
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Tensile testing composites: Simple concept, difficult in practice
Dr. Daniel O. Adams, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Composite Mechanics Laboratory at the University of Utah, and the vice president of Wyoming Test Fixtures Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT, US), takes over for his father, Dr. Donald F. Adams, as the anchor writer in ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ magazine's revamped CW Design and Testing column. First subject? The challenges of tensile testing unidirectional composites.
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Back-country boating: Carbon fiber Adirondack pack canoe
Placid Boatworks (Lake Placid, NY, US) makes modern composite versions of classic, but relatively heavy, Adirondack pack canoes, using vacuum-infused carbon fiber. Here's how.
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Articulated composite booms extend reach of concrete-pumping arms
A 25% weight reduction vs. legacy steel yields economics that justify upfront cost of carbon fiber.
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Dark knights: Sleek trimarans surveil the seas
Epoxy-infused patrol boats outperform less nimble and more costly conventional naval craft.
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Multi-material rudder: Trailing-edge parts replaced
TCB Composite (West Haven, UT, US) molds replacment parts that keep legacy US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter aircraft, affectionately dubbed Warthogs, in the air.
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Composites in architecture: Educating for growth
Nexus between architecture/design and performance sailing explores the opportunities that composites offer for building and construction.
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