Adaptive, tolerant and efficient composite structures

Surveying materials, design methods and principles, production technologies and adaptronics, this book shows how smart materials can offer active functions including morphing, active vibration control, active acoustic control and structure health monitoring.

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Composite structures are most efficient in performance and production cost when combined with smart materials making them adaptable to changing operational conditions.
The specific production processes of composites offer the possibility to integrate more functions thus making the structure more valuable. Active functions can be realized by smart materials, e.g. morphing, active vibration control, active structure acoustic control or structure health monitoring. The foundation is a sound understanding of materials, design methods, design principles, production technologies and adaptronics. Along the complete process chain this disciplines together deliver advanced lightweight solutions for applications ranging from mechanical engineering to vehicles, airframe and finally space structures.
This book provides the scientific foundations as well as inspiring new ideas for engineers working in the field of composite lightweight structures. Polymer composites offer the possibility for functional integration since the material is produced simultaneously with the product. The efficiency of composite structures raises through functional integration. The specific production processes of composites offer the possibility to improve and to integrate more functions thus making the structure more valuable. Passive functions can be improved by combination of different materials from nano to macro scale, i.e. strength, toughness, bearing strength, compression after impact properties or production tolerances.
Active functions can be realized by smart materials, i.e. morphing, active vibration control, active structure acoustic control or structure health monitoring.
The basis is a comprehensive understanding of materials, simulation, design methods, production technologies and adaptronics. These disciplines together deliver advanced lightweight solutions for applications ranging from mechanical engineering to vehicles, airframe and space structures along the complete process chain.
The book provides basics as well as inspiring ideas for engineers working in the field of adaptive, tolerant and robust composite structures.