COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES FOR AEROSPACE APPLICATIONS

Credit Hours: 3 · Undergraduate Upper-Level

The course covers a broad spectrum of composite material systems and structural forms used in aerospace applications, including laminated composites, sandwich panels, particle- and fiber-reinforced composites, as well as polymer, metal, and ceramic matrix composites. Students will learn the fundamental micromechanics principles governing these materials, their mechanical and fracture properties, and how these properties relate to processing and microstructure. The analytical foundation of the course is built on the fundamental laws of anisotropic elasticity and Classical Laminate Theory, enabling students to predict stiffness, strength, and failure behavior of multilayered composite structures. Additional topics include core–face interaction in sandwich structures, damage initiation and propagation in composite systems, and the role of interfaces in governing overall performance. Practical components combine hands-on fabrication with mechanical testing to illustrate key structure–property relationships and to provide experience with real-world aerospace composite design challenges. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: MECH 571 . Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for MECH 471 if student has credit for MECH 571 .