While currently available texts dealing with the subject of high perfor-
mance composite materials touch upon a spectra of topics such as
mechanical metallurgy, physical metallurgy, micromechanics and macro-
mechanics of such systems, it is the specific purpose of this text to
examine elements of the mechanics of structural components composed of
composite materials. This text is intended for use in training engineers
in this new technology and rational thought processes necessary to
develop a better understanding of the behavior of such material systems
for use as structural components. The concepts are further exploited in
terms of the structural format and development to which the book is
dedicated. To this end the development progresses systematically by
first introducing the notion and concepts of what these new material
classes are, the fabrication processes involved and their unique
features relative to conventional monolithic materials. Such
introductory remarks, while far too short in texts of this type, appear
necessary as a precursor for engineers to develop a better understanding
for design purposes of both the threshold limits to which the properties
of such systems can be pushed as well as the practical limitations on
their manufacture. Following these introductory remarks, an in-depth
discussion of the important differences between composites and
conventional monolithic material types is discussed in terms of
developing the concepts associated with directional material properties.
