Introduction to Composite Materials

Composite materials are an advanced family of materials that have been in development for decades and continue to gain usage in the aerospace, marine, automotive, and sporting goods industries. While composites enjoy benefits such as high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios, they are considerably more complicated than most metals and plastics. This class provides an introduction to composite materials and is intended for users with a little background or no background on composites. Attendees learn what a composite material is and the advantages/disadvantages of composites, as well as an overview of design, analysis, and manufacturing methods for composites. Finally, Autodesk® products with composites functionality are briefly discussed.