Syllabus

Module 1 - Introduction to Composite Materials: Motivation towards studying Composite Materials, Global usages and market value, Definitions, Classification, General Characteristics, Comparison with traditional structural materials, Advantages and Limitations (3 Hours)
Module 2 – Reinforcements: Types of reinforcements, Arrangement of reinforcements in composite materials, Single fiber and fiber bundle, Various types of fibers – Glass fiber, Carbon fiber, Aramid fiber, Boron fiber, Ceramic fibers, Natural fibers, Whiskers, Other forms of reinforcements, Comparison of various fibers and selection for different applications (7 Hours)
Module 3 – Matrix Materials: Polymer matrix – Types of structural polymers, Glass transition temperature, Degree of crystallinity, Curing in polymers, Stress~strain response, Metal matrix – Common metals suitable for matrix of Composite materials, Why to reinforce metals?, Ceramic matrix – Effect of flaws in ceramics, common ceramic matrix materials. Determination of Mass and volume fractions, density and void content in composite materials, resin burn off and acid digestion tests (5 Hours)
Module 4 – Interfaces in Composite Materials: Definition and evolution, Dynamic nature of interfaces, Wettability and its importance, effect of reinforcement morphology, interactions at the interface, Types of bonding at the interfaces – Mechanical, Physical, Chemical, Sizing on the fiber surface, Concepts of nanocomposites, functionalization of nanoreinforcements, glass fiber/polymer interface, carbon fiber/polymer interface, Interfacial strength characterization – Flexural tests, Single fiber pull out test, Short beam shear test, Fragmentation test, Interlaminar fracture toughness (4 Hours)
Module 5 – Manufacturing of Polymer Matrix Composites: Thermosetting polymer based - Hand layup Technique, Spray up Technique, Pultrusion Technique, Filament Winding Technique, Resin Transfer Molding, Automated tape placement, Automated fiber placement, Autoclave based techniques, Thermoplastic polymer based - Film Stacking, Commingled Fibers, Long Fiber Thermoplastic Compression Molding, Sheet molding compound. (2 Hours)
Module 6 - Manufacturing of Metal Matrix Composites: Liquid state processing - Stir Casting, Infiltration (Gas pressure infiltration, Squeeze casting infiltration, Pressure die infiltration, Solid state processing - Diffusion Bonding, Deposition Techniques, Sintering technique, In-situ fabrication (2 Hours)
Module 7 - Manufacturing of Ceramic Matrix Composites: Slurry infiltration, Polymer Infiltration and Pyrolysis, Chemical Vapor Infiltration, Liquid Silicon Infiltration, Carbon/Carbon Composites (2 Hours)
Module 8 – Micromechanical analysis of composite lamina: Macro- and Micro- mechanics approaches, Analysis of a unidirectional continuous fiber lamina - Longitudinal elastic modulus, Transverse elastic modulus, Major Poisson’s ratio, In-plane shear modulus, Semi-Empirical Models, Longitudinal Tensile strength, Transverse Tensile strength, Failure modes, Fracture toughness – crack bridging, Fiber pullout, Strength of unidirectional discontinuous fiber lamina. (7 Hours)
Module 9 – Macromechanical analysis of composite lamina: Laminate code, Stress~strain relations - Anisotropic materials, Orthotropic materials, Transversely isotropic materials, Orthotropic materials under plane stress, isotropic materials. (3 Hours)

To make students aware of the National and International status and current-day applications of Composite Materials in various Engineering applications

To train students to be able to select proper reinforcement and matrix materials along with fabrication techniques to design composite structures for different requirements

To make students updated on the cutting edge research activities in Composite materials globally

To upskill the students for analyzing the strength criteria and predicting the properties and performance of the composite structures under different types of mechanical loads along different directions

The students will develop an understanding of what a composite material in reality is. They would learn about different types of composites and their Engineering applications.

The students will get to know about different types of reinforcements and matrices and their characteristics that are used to make structural composites.

The students will explore the possible interaction between the reinforcement and matrix materials in order to realize the scientific origin of interface in composite materials.

The students will learn the key factors that are to be considered for manufacturing of composite materials and accordingly develop and understanding about which technique is to be used for making a specific type of composite and for a particular type of application.

The students will demonstrate an ability to apply the basic fundamental principles of mechanics for predicting the mechanical behavior of fiber reinforced composite materials under several states of loading.

The student will understand the deformation and failure behaviour of composites and accordingly will manifest an ability to choose proper raw materials along with manufacturing strategy to design composite structures for targeted critical and sub-critical engineering applications.

P K Mallick, Fiber reinforced Composites: Materials, Manufacturing, and Design, CRC Press

A K Kaw, Mechanics of Composite Materials, CRC Press

K K Chawla, Composite Materials: Science and Engineering, Springer

D. Hull, T. W. Clyne, An Introduction to Composite Materials, Cambridge University Press

A.J. Clancy, D.B. Anthony, F. De Luca, Metal Mimics: Lightweight, Strong, and Tough Nanocomposites and Nanomaterial Assemblies, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 12 (2020) 15955–15975. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c01304

Y. Swolfs, L. Gorbatikh, I. Verpoest, Fibre hybridisation in polymer composites: A review, Compos. Part Appl. Sci. Manuf. 67 (2014) 181–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2014.08.027