Preface: Finite Element Analysis of Polymers and Composites

This book summarizes the experimental, mathematical, and numerical analysis of polymers and their composite materials through finite element method. It provides detailed and comprehensive information on mechanical properties, fatigue and creep behavior, thermal behavior, vibrational analysis, testing methods, and their modeling techniques. In addition, this book lists the main industrial sectors in which polymers and their composite materials simulation is used, and their gains from it, including aeronautics, medical, aerospace, automotive, naval, energy, civil, sports, manufacturing, and even electronics. Leading scientists and researchers from academician, government, and private research institutions across the globe have contributed to this book. To take advantage of the full potential of polymeric composite materials, structural analysts and designers must have accurate mathematical models and design methods at their disposal. The modeling and simulation of polymer and its composite materials are an effective means to improve the design and overall performance of the products. The progress of modeling and simulation of polymers and their composite materials on mechanical properties and thermal conductivity in recent years is comprehensively summarized from various aspects/types of analysis, types of polymers and their composites, types of the model employed, simulation platforms, and parameters and research results. The main application of theories and methods in this field are extensively outlined to feed the readers with the research findings in this field and provide some guidance and idea for related research. This book also presents the polymeric composites and their finite element models to study the deformation, strength, and failure of composite structures. Emphasis is placed on engineering aspects, such as the analytical descriptions, effective analysis tools, modeling of physical features, and evaluation of approaches used to formulate and predict the response of polymers and their composite structures. All the chapters in this book provides cutting-edge, up-to-date research on the characterization, analysis, and modeling of polymeric composite materials. Academicians, researchers, scientists, engineers, and students in the similar field will be benefited from this highly application-oriented book to understand about the structural integrity of polymers and their composite materials.