The properties of unidirectional composite (UDC) materials are quite different from those of conventional, metallic materials. This article provides information on the treatment of UDC stress-strain relations in the forms appropriate for analysis of thin plies of material. It explains the development of the relations between mid-surface strains and curvatures and membrane stress and moment resultants. The article discusses the properties, such as thermal expansion, moisture expansion, and conductivity, of symmetric laminates and unsymmetric laminates. It describes the distribution of temperature and moisture through the thickness of a laminate. Stresses caused due to mechanical loads, temperature, and moisture on the laminate are analyzed. The article concludes with information on interlaminar cracking, free-edge delamination, and transverse cracks of laminates.

This article focuses on the unique characteristics of composites and laminated plates, including orthotropic, anisotropic, and unsymmetric plates. It discusses the stability issues associated with practical, structural laminates based on the finite stack effects and transverse shear stiffness effects. The article presents the study of instability associated with postbuckling behavior and hygrothermal buckling in composite sandwich panels and shell panels.

This article begins with a discussion on fiber-reinforced composite materials and describes the generic behavior and structure/property relationships of composites. The article summarizes lamina properties and presents equations that help in the calculation of lamina properties. Composite laminates are constructed from lamina with uniaxial fiber orientation and frequently from textile fabrics as well. The article explains the characteristics of symmetric in-plane and through-thickness laminates; asymmetric in-plane and symmetric through-thickness laminates; asymmetric laminates; and curved laminates. It provides information on controlled thermal expansion composites, metal-matrix composites, and ceramic-matrix composites. The article illustrates the types of bonded joints and concludes with a discussion on design for manufacturing.

This article discusses the need for design allowables, development of design allowables, and important factors that affect the selection of the allowable. It provides a comparison between lamina and laminate allowables. The article discusses laminate results and specific techniques used in the statistical development of allowable values.

This article presents a comprehensive collection of the definition of terms related to metallurgy.

A characteristic feature of bending is the inhomogeneous (nonuniform) nature of the deformation. Therefore, in a bent specimen, the strain and stress at a given point are dependent on the location of the point with respect to the neutral axis of the cross-sectional area of the specimen. This article discusses the stress-strain relationships, strain curvature, and stress-moment equations for elastic, noncylindrical, elastic-plastic, and pure plastic bending conditions. It also reviews the distribution of residual stress and springback.

This article is a compilation of definitions for terms related to engineering materials, including plastics, elastomers, polymer-matrix composites, adhesives and sealants, ceramics, ceramic-matrix composites, glasses, and carbon-carbon composites.

Bending is a common metalworking operation to create localized deformation in sheets (or blanks), plates, sections, tubes, and wires. This article emphasizes on the bending of sheet metal along with some coverage on flanging. It informs that variations in the bending stresses cause springback after bending, and discusses the variables and their effects on springback, as well as the methods to overcome or counteract them. These methods include overbending, bottoming or setting, and stretch bending. The article provides information on elastic bending, non-cylindrical bending, elastic-plastic bending, and pure plastic bending. Sheet metal bendability is a critical factor in many forming operations. The article illustrates the derivation of two relevant bend-ductility equations.

This article describes the extrusion process, which converts soft, plastic material into a particular form using an extruder, or screw conveyer. It discusses the two main types of plastic extruders, twin-screw and single-screw, estimation of extruder capacity, and design and operations (heating, cooling, downstream sizing, corrugating, and crossheading) of the screw, the most important component of any extruder. It discusses the shapes produced by screw extrusion and the types of extrusion products produced by extrusion processes, including blown-film extrusion, flat-film or sheet extrusion, chill-roll film extrusion, pipe or tube extrusion, wire and cable coverings, extrusion coating, and profile extrusion, and provides some discussion on multiple-screw extruders. The article describes the dimensional accuracy of extrusion products, and lists common defects that occur frequently in the extrusion process.

Advanced thermoplastics are stiff, moldable plastics that compete with traditional engineering thermoplastics and thermosets owing to their good tensile, compressive, impact, and shear strength, electrical properties, and corrosion resistance. This article discusses commercial forms, family characteristics, properties and applications of the following advanced thermoplastics: homopolymer and copolymer acetals, fluoropolymers, ionomers, polyamides, polyamide-imides, polyarylates, polyketones, polyaryl sulfones, polybutylene terephthalates, polycarbonates, polyether-imides, polyether sulfones, polyethylene terephthalates, thermoplastic polyimides, liquid crystal polymers, polyphenylene ether blends, polyphenylene sulfides, and polysulfones.

This article presents a detailed account on the process flow, composition, alternative sources, and the advancement of ironmaking, steelmaking and secondary steelmaking practices. Some steels, such as bearing steels, heat-resistant steels, ultrahigh strength missile and aircraft steels, and rotor steels have higher quality requirements and tighter composition control than plain carbon or ordinary low-alloy steels. The production of special-quality steels requires vacuum-based induction or electric remelting and refining capabilities. The article explores the types and characteristics of various steel manufacturing processes, such as ingot casting, continuous casting, and hot rolling. It provides an outline of specialized processing routes of producing ultralow plain carbon steels, interstitial-free steels, high strength low-alloy steels, ultrahigh strength steels, stainless steels, and cold-rolled products, and briefly explains the analytical techniques for liquid steels.