Fatigue in Composites

Professor Bryan Harris graduated in Industrial Metallurgy from the University of Birmingham, subsequently taking a PhD at Cambridge University and a DSc, again from Birmingham. After working in industry for ICI Metals Division in Birmingham, followed by a spell at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, Connecticut, USA, Professor Harris returned to academia, developing a keen interest in the field of composite materials. In 1976 he was appointed Professor of Materials Science at Bath University where he is now Professor Emeritus. He retains his interest in composite materials, with special emphasis on fatigue, fracture and non-destructive evaluation, but he has also at various times worked on the manufacturing of polymer-, ceramic and metal-matrix composites. From 1984-1999 he was Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Composites Science & Technology. He is currently Materials Consultant for Buro Happold Civil Engineers Ltd.

• Part 1 Introduction to fatigue in composites: A historical review of the fatigue behaviour of fibre-reinforced plastics; Fatigue test methods, problems and standards; Fatigue under multiaxial stress systems. Part 2 Micromechanical aspects of fatigue in composites: The effects of aggressive environments on long-term behaviour; The effect of interface on the fatigue performance of fibre composites; Delamination fatigue; The fatigue of hybrid composites; Non-destructive evaluation of damage accumulation. Part 3 Fatigue in different types of composites: Short-fibre thermoset composites; Woven-fibre thermoset composites; Fatigue of thermoplastic composites; Fatigue of wood and wood panel products. Part 4 Life-prediction methods for constant stress and variable stress: Physical modelling of damage development in structural composite materials under stress; Micromechanical models; A computational meso-damage model for life prediction for laminates; A statistical study of the fatigue performance of fibre-reinforced composite laminates; Analysis of matrix crack-induced delamination in composite materials under static and fatigue loading; Fatigue strength of composites under variable plane stress; Life prediction under service loading spectra; A parametric constant-life model for prediction of the fatigue lives of fibre-reinforced plastics; A neural-network approach to fatigue-life prediction; The fatigue performance of composite structural components; Fatigue of joints in composite structures; Fatigue in filament-wound structures; Fatigue of FRP composites in civil engineering applications; Fatigue in aerospace applications; Fatigue and durability of marine composites.

"High quality achieved throughout by the writers and editor. In the introduction to this book, Professor Harris states that he set out to produce 'a practical textbook for designers (and) an authoritative reference source for materials scientists. He has succeeded admirably. …generally excellent work." --Materials World