"Composite materials for structural performance: Towards higher limits", Risø International Symposium, 5-9 September 2011

I would like to invite you to submit papers for the 32nd Risø International Symposium on Materials Science: "Composite materials for structural performance: towards higher limits". The idea of the symposium is to explore what are the real limits of structural performance of composite structures, covering both limitations by (a) the properties of the materials and (b) limits from the design methods and criteria used in the structural design process.

The limits of materials properties can be increased by material development, by understanding how the composite material works at various length scales, for instance, understanding the interplay between properties of fibres, matrix and the fibre/matrix interface through micromechanical modelling and microscale experiments. Material behaviours can be changed, e.g. the fracture properties from brittle to damage tolerant behaviour.

Design limits, e.g. criteria for material failure and lifetime predictions, can be expanded by developing and validation improved models for the critical limit states, e.g. the onset of fatigue failure under multiaxial stress state, the use of damage tolerant design approach and the use of more advanced modelling tools such as cohesive zone modelling.

Read more about the Symposium at the homepage:  http://www.risoe.dtu.dk/Conferences/symp32/theme.aspx