MAE 4131
Mechanics of Composite Structures
Covers the fundamentals of mechanical analysis and material selection for composite materials. Topics include an overview of composite types, advantages, applications and fabrication; anisotropic elasticity; specific composite constitutive equations including plane stress and lamination theory; failure analysis; boundary value problems using composite materials; experimental methods and an introduction to micromechanics. Lectures cover essential background material and theoretical developments.
Topics
- Students will be able to understand the advantages, the potential applications and the fabrication methods associated with several classes of composite materials.
- Students will be able to conduct critical mechanical analyses associated with the deformation and failure of composites accounting specifically for characteristic property anisotropy.
- Students will be able to approximate composite mechanical properties based on properties of constituent phases. Understand mechanical tests employed to measure composite properties.
- Students will be able to properly select composite materials for mechanical designs and to understand the advantages and liabilities of employing composites over monolithic materials.
Official roster learning outcomes
Prerequisites & course information
MAE 3270.
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027
- Catalogue entry ↗
Catalogue variants
- Mechanics of Composite Structures · 5.0 · Undergraduate