Advanced Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures

This book is concerned with describing, analyzing, and discussing topical problems in the mechanics of advanced composite materials and structures whose mechanical properties are controlled by high-strength and/or high-stiffness continuous fibers embedded in a polymeric, metal, or ceramic matrix. Although the idea of combining two or more components to produce materials with controlled properties have been known and used from time immemorial, modern composites have been developed only over the last five or six decades and now have widespread applications in many different fields of engineering, but are of particular importance in aerospace structures for which high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios are required.