Measurement of Thermomechanical Coupling and its Application in Stress and Damage Analysis

Abstract

Polymer composites are increasingly being used in high-end and military applications, mainly due to their excellent tailorability to specific loading scenarios and strength/stiffness to weight ratios. The overall purpose of the ongoing research at the University of Southampton is to develop an enhanced understanding of the behaviour of fibre reinforced polymer composites when subjected to a range of loading scenarios. The measurements lecture reviews progress in using the thermoelastic stress analysis technique as a tool that enables a better understanding of the behaviour of polymer composite single skin and sandwich structures.