Mechanics of Elastic Composites (Electronic book text)

Composite materials play a fundamental role in many modern engineering applications and have been the focus of much research and development in recent years. Mechanics of Elastic Composites is a comprehensive, reader-friendly treatment of the theory that provides the foundation for these materials. Beginning with an introductory review of tensor calculus and the fundamentals of linear elastostatics, the authors explore the advanced, three-dimensional theory of elastic composites, from the classical aspects of laminates to recently developed results and methods related to the buckling of fiber reinforced composite strips, stability analysis of composite laminates, and brittle fracture mechanics. Many of these results are drawn from research papers published in Eastern Europe that until now were unavailable in the U.S., Canada, and other western countries. Among this book's many notable features is the inclusion of more than 400 problems, many of which are solved at the end of the book.; F ull coverage of the subject, clear exposition, and the abundance of exercises make this an outstanding textbook for graduate-level course work, and up-to-date results make it a valuable reference for engineers working with composites and researchers striving for further advances. Developed over many years by three of the world's leading experts in the field, Mechanics of Elastic Composites will remain an important contribution to the literature for years to come.