24-638   Special Topics: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers

In terms of stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratios, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is a high performance structural material. It is widely used in the airline, sporting goods (bicycles, golf club shafts), energy (wind turbines), musical instruments, and medical prosthetic industries. CFRP is also used by civil engineers to enhance bridge strength and durability. This course will first briefly survey all types of composites (metal matrix, ceramic matrix, polymer matrix), and their application spaces. It will then discuss carbon fiber and polymer production methods, composite fabrication, and the associated enhancements in mechanical behavior of these materials in composite form. The method of digital image correlation (DIC), which enables full field strain measurements under applied stress, will be introduced, preceded by a discussion of optical imaging. A set of two laboratory exercises will involve fabricating specimens, characterizing them by DIC, and comparing stiffness and strength to various CFRP weaves. Students will develop expertise in CFRP design and analysis.