Composite Structures with Symmetry

Abstract

In recent years, the use of composite materials in structural applications has been observed. The composites have revolutionized the field of materials and allow for interesting and new developments in different engineering branches. At the same time, in all areas of engineering, there are some products or parts of products or components that contain repetitive or identical elements. Here, different types of symmetry can occur. Such systems have been studied by various researchers in the last few decades. In civil engineering, for example, most buildings, works of art, halls, etc. have, in their structure, identical parts and symmetries. This has happened since antiquity, for different reasons. First, because of their easier, faster, and cheaper design, and second, because of their easy manufacturing and (less important for engineers, but important to the beneficiaries) for aesthetic reasons. The symmetry in the field of composite materials manifests itself in two different ways, at two levels—one due to the symmetries that appear in the composition of the composite materials and that determine the properties of the materials, and second in the structures manufactured with composites. The study of the obvious importance of the existence of symmetries in the design of composite materials or composite structures of a sandwich type, for example (but also other types), and of the existence of symmetries in structures constructed also using composite materials will be highlighted within this Special Issue. With this Issue, we want to disseminate knowledge among researchers, designers, manufacturers, and users in this exciting field.