Prepregs
In search of a better ride
Composites minimize weight on this mountain bike’s unconventional, single-sided front-wheel suspension system.
Read More
Orion re-entry system: Composites displace metal
World’s largest heat shield updates metal design with out-of-autoclave process.
Read More
New twist in cycling: A truss bikers can trust
An "open tube" alternative to the solid-tube bike frame.
Read More
Corvette's carbon hood creates shock and awe
North America’s first mass-produced, all-CFRP hood raises the bar for production sports cars.
Read More
Challenge of engineering retrofit blades
Myriad interrelated design factors are considered in new blades for turbines originally built for high-wind regimes.
Read More
Wind Blade Manufacturing: Cost-efficient materials-based strategies
The wind blade’s four key elements — the root, the spar, the aerodynamic shell or fairing, and the surfacing system — have present unique manufacturing challenges that must be met with carefully selected composite material systems and molding strategies.
Read More
Shared composite material property databases
For more than a decade, NASA, FAA, industry and academia have been working toward the goal of creating a centralized composite material property database similar to that for metals. Their efforts, while productive, have not come with the war-like strength that the standardization of metals did. The composites industry is guided by Composite Materials Handbook 17 or CMH-17 (formerly known as MIL-HDBK-17).
Read More
Prepreg forecast: Strong growth through 2013
Prepreg applications are on the rise in the composites industry as manufacturers in a variety of industries increasingly adopt this versatile material. Today, prepregs find use in commercial aerospace, military/defense, general aviation, space/satellite, marine, sporting goods, automotive, civil engineering, wind
Read More
Polyurethane long fiber technology (LFT) replaces wood in spa surround
To many consumers, the thought of a relaxing soak in a hot tub is mighty appealing — but the thought of spa maintenance, particularly replacing rotted wood in the spa's cabinet-like enclosure, probably isn't. For spa manufacturer Clearwater Spas (Woodinville, Wash.), that reality and the fact that building decorativ
Read More
Engineering Insights: Glass/Thermoplastic Hood Steps Toward Commercialization
The hood design for Hyundai’s QarmaQ concept car is evaluated against European and Japanese pedestrian safety requirements.
Read More