Preliminary Design of Structural Components in Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics and Metals

A review of CFRP dealing with its processing, properties and some of the ways in which it could be used in conjunction with conventional materials. The importance of the utilization of carbon fibres in commercially useful as well as experimental structures is discussed. This may be achieved by using the fibres in conjunction with conventional sheet metal components, as a preliminary step toward the 100 per cent reinforced plastic structure. A few such applications are described, together with a brief summary of the fibre processing and properties as an aid to preliminary design studies.