Aerospace Engineering Department

Faculty of

Cairo University

Engineering

Mechanics of Composite Structures

Course Code:
Prerequisite:
Co requisite:
Credit hours:
Class Time:

AER454
4 (3+1Tut.)
Wednesday 15:30-18:30

Faculty Member:
Telephone:
e-mail:
Room #:
Office Hours:

Mohammad Tawfik
+20-12-025-3333
Mohammad.tawfik@gmail.com

Classroom Regulations
1. The use of mobile telephones in the classroom is not permitted. They should be
switched to silent at all times and must not be answered during class.
2. Students must come to class with the necessary study materials/equipment e.g.
paper, pens, calculators, reference notes.
3. Standards of behaviour in the classroom should be such that all students can study
without disruption.
Failure to adhere to the classroom regulations may render the student subject to
disciplinary action in accordance with the College rules and regulations.
Course Description
The student will be introduced to the composite materials; Manufacturing Processes;
Micromechanics of fiber reinforced materials; Ply Mechanics and stress-strain relations;
Macromechanics and Stiffness Design; Failure and Strength Design; Composite Beams
design for strength and buckling.
Course Objectives
This course is designed to familiarize students with composite materials. These materials
will be continuous fiber composites as well as short fiber composites. Analysis techniques
will be demonstrated to predict mechanical and physical properties of these materials.
Tradeoffs in material selection to meet design goals are emphasized.


Aerospace Engineering Department

Faculty of

Cairo University

Engineering
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
Prog.
Outcome

No. Outcome
1

An ability to identify the properties of fiber and matrix materials used in

commercial composites, as well as some common manufacturing
techniques.

An ability to predict the elastic properties of both long and short fiber
composites based on the constituent properties.

An ability to rotate stress, strain and stiffness tensors using ideas from
matrix algebra.

A basic understanding of linear elasticity with emphasis on the difference

between isotropic and anisotropic material behavior.

An ability to analyze a laminated plate in bending, including finding

laminate properties from lamina properties and find residual stresses from
curing and moisture.

An ability to predict the failure strength of a laminated composite plate.

Knowledge of issues in fracture of composites and environmental

degradation of composites.

An exposure to recent developments in composites, including metal and

ceramic matrix composites.

An ability to use the ideas developed in the analysis of composites

towards using composites in aerospace design.

Evaluation of student performance

Class participation and attendance
Quizzes
Homework and Projects
Final exam

5%
10%
15%
70%


Aerospace Engineering Department

Faculty of

Cairo University

Engineering
Grading
Percentage
Score
85 100
75 84
65 74
50 64
50<

Letter Grade
Distinction
Very Good
Good
Pass
Fail

Educational Resources
Resource
Description
Textbook
Barbero, E.J., Introduction to Composite Materials Design,
Required
Taylor & Francis, Inc., Philadelphia, 1999. ISBN 1-56032-701-4
Recommended Finite
Element
Analysis
of
Composite
Materials
by Ever J. Barbero (Author)
Reading
Design and Optimization of Laminated Composite Materials
(Hardcover)
by Zafer Grdal (Author), Raphael T. Haftka (Author), Prabhat Hajela
(Author)
Library resources, Internet search of periodicals
Other
Resources:
Course Content
Wk
Topic
Chapters
1
Basic Concepts
1
2

Fiber Reinforcements
Manufacturing Processes

2
3

Micromechanics: Basic Concepts

Micromechanics: Stiffness

Micromechanics: Strength

Ply Mechanics: Coordinate System

Ply Mechanics: Stress and Strain

Ply Mechanics: Coordinate Transformation

Macromechanics: Stiffness and stress

10

Macromechanics: Common Laminate Types

11

Failure and Strength Design

12

Beams: Preliminary Design

6
7

13

Plate: Preliminary Design

Aerospace Engineering Department

Cairo University

Faculty of
Engineering

Course Regulations

Assessment (coursework and exams) deadlines and schedules will be provided by

the lecturer. Assessments must be submitted in strict accordance with the
published assessment procedures.
In the case of absence, it is the responsibility of the student to obtain and cover the
course material missed.

Honor Code
Students are responsible for maintaining the academic integrity of the learning process.
Teaching and Learning Methodologies
The necessary theory for each topic area will be presented in lectures. The applications,
practical experiments and assignment work will be supported in tutorials and lab sessions.