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| Composites |
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Reinforced polymer composite materials offer a balance of properties
unavailable from other material types. There are numerous examples
where the high specific properties have led to efficient structures
in the aerospace, automotive, offshore marine, energy and other high
performance industrial sectors.
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Typical applications are characterised by two requirements (1) the need for minimum
material usage, because of high material costs and weight constraints, and (2)
the need for safe predictable performance within a demanding service environment.
These conflicting requirements demand that accurate life prediction methods be
used for combined mechanical, chemical and thermal factors at the design stage.
Single point data from standard tests can be misleading. |
F1 racing car - high composites useage |
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The development of reliable life prediction methods relies
on an improved understanding of the behaviour that sets the design
limit, e.g. no delamination growth or hot/wet compression strength
and its dependence on intrinsic material properties such as resin modulus
or interlaminar toughness. Such relationships are not generally known
but can be determined for specific systems. |
Mixed mode fracture testing of CRF |
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MERL has an established reputation for developing methods for the
life prediction of composite materials for engineering applications.
Materials research facilities are available
for composites conditioning, exposure, mechanical testing, chemical analysis,
modelling and failure analysis. An integrated approach is offered whereby detailed
knowledge of the materials, process methods and design analysis can be brought
together. The services available include:
- Material durability in service
- Conditioning and exposure analysis
- Fracture mechanics and effect of defect analysis
- Mechanical testing
- Engineering component design and evaluation
- Materials selection
- Stress/strain and finite element analysis
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Visit the new portal for polymer composites at www.materialssolutions.info to
learn more about fibre reinforced materials. This site, sponsored by
the D.T.I., contains information on manufacturing, design, material selection,
testing Standards, and past government funded research programmes.
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© 2009
MERL Ltd. The registered company address of:
Materials Engineering Research
Laboratory Limited is Wilbury Way,
Hitchin, Hertfordshire, UK, SG4 0TW.
Registered in England. Company registration number: 2015020.
Tel:
+44(0)1462 427
850
Polymer Engineering, Testing, Inspection, Research and Development, UK
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