Abstract
One of the many advantages in the use of composite materials in engineering structures is their resistance to fatigue. Careful component design means that complex, weight-efficient components can be produced which are “intrinsically safe” in that they have an effectively infinite fatigue life. Excessive loading and manufacturing/design details may, however, invoke a process analogous to fatigue in metal components leading to ultimate failure of the component at a load below its design limit. A somewhat qualitative analysis has shown this mechanism to result primarily due to sub-critical crack growth within the resin matrix material. Although the phenomena need further investigation, it was found that the crack growth could be suppressed by using a resin matrix with a much higher toughness. A short introduction to the use of composite materials in Formula 1 is provided along with a discussion to illustrate how the practical application of Materials Science and Fracture Mechanics principles were used to solve a potentially serious problem.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
