Homework #1 Composite Materials MEEG 417 / 617

1. Discuss a naturally occurring composite material. Describe its structure, properties and
significance. Use figures and tables as necessary and provide proper citations for reference
information utilized. Note: If you choose wood, which was used as an example in class, please
choose a specific species of wood (e.g. balsa, oak, pine, etc.).
2. A fundamental advantage of composite materials is their high strength-to-weight and high
stiffness-to-weight ratios as compared to many conventional materials. These properties are
often referred to as specific strength and specific modulus (property/density). Prepare a graph
using specific strength and specific modulus as the coordinate axes and using data in Table 1
(attached) and Table A4-1 in the book and plot the points for the metals, fibers and composites.
For unidirectional composites show the properties in the fiber direction (longitudinal) as well as
the transverse directions. Comment on the trends and also the difference between
unidirectional and woven reinforcements.
3. A rectangular cross-sectional beam subjected to a bending moment is made of steel and is 10
cm in width and 6 mm in thickness.
a) If the width of the beam is held constant, calculate the beam thickness if designed from
2024-T4 aluminum and the various composites in Table A4-1 (use the longitudinal
properties for unidirectional materials) to provide the equivalent stiffness (EI) in one
case and in another, the equivalent strength.
b) Calculate the beam weight differences (per unit of beam length) for the preceding cases.
c) For all materials considered in part (a), if the beams are to be of identical weight
calculate the stiffness and bending strengths relative to that of the steel beam. Which
beam has the highest bending stiffness and strength?
4. In composite materials the properties are often synergistic in that the properties of the
composite exceed the properties of the individual constituent materials (the total is greater than
the sum of parts). One example of this is the toughness of glass-fiber-reinforced / epoxy
composites where the toughness of the composite is substantially greater than either the
toughness of the glass or the toughness of the epoxy. Explain why.
5. Nonwoven fabrics (fiber mats) can be formed through entanglement and/or fibers bonded in
the form of webs or yarns by chemical or mechanical means. Discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of such nonwovens over similar woven fabrics.
6. The properties of composites are governed by the properties of the constituent materials, the
volume contents of the constituents and their interaction. The reinforcement contents are
defined by their volume fraction (see attached equations and discussion in the textbook).
Surface effects are used to modify the properties and such surface effects should be
proportional to the total interface area /volume ratio of the resin phase, . Derive an equation
relating to the fiber volume fraction and the fiber surface/volume ratio. Make a plot of vs
fiber volume fraction for single-walled carbon nanotubes (~1.3 nm), multi-walled carbon
nanotubes (~15 nm), ceramic whiskers (~1 m), advanced fibers (glass/carbon) (~10 m) and
boron fibers (~150 m).
MEEG 417 / MEEG 617, Erik T. Thostenson

Homework #1 Composite Materials MEEG 417 / 617

Equations for Volume Fraction

= ,

+ = ,

+ =

Where v is the volume fraction of the constituent materials, V is the volume and the subscripts f,
m and c refer to the fiber, matrix and composite, respectively.
Table 1: Properties of Fibers and Conventional Materials

MEEG 417 / MEEG 617, Erik T. Thostenson