Introduction to Composites

Composites are a specialty material used at increasing levels throughout our engineered environment, from high-performance aircraft and ground vehicles to relatively low-tech applications in our daily lives. Professionals with responsibilities for products and systems that rely on composites will benefit from a deeper understanding of how these materials are made, how they are used, how they behave, and how they can fail. It is also important to understand that not all composite materials are the same, that certain types of composites are appropriate for certain applications, and that selecting, designing, manufacturing, and using these materials requires unique considerations. This course, designed for technical and non-technical professionals alike, provides an overarching introduction to composite materials. The course content is organized in a manner that guides the student from design to raw materials to manufacturing, assembly, quality assurance, testing, use, and life-cycle support.

Target Audience

• Engineers
• Technicians
• QA managers
• Program managers
• Component designers
• Marketing, technical writers, and individuals without a materials background wishing to better understand composite materials

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Navigate the broad range of materials that are classified as composites
• Understand how composite materials and structures are made
• Describe how composites behave, and why
• Understand the strengths and limitations of various types of composites
• Articulate specific needs that composites require in terms of quality assurance, inspection, and maintenance
• Understand how composites fail, and be able to begin troubleshooting such issues
• Identify applications for composites in high-tech systems and in your daily life

Course outline

1. Overview of composites
2. Fibers, fabrics, and prepregs
3. Resins
4. Sandwich structures
5. Manufacturing methods
6. Post-processing – machining, sealing, joining
7. Non-destructive testing and inspection
8. Engineering mechanics, analysis, and design
9. Material and structural testing
10. Applications
11. Failure Analysis
12. Quality Assurance