A code of practice for the structural design of fibre composites

The lack of appropriate structural design standards for composite materials is a major inhibitor to the wider usage of these materials in mainstream civil engineering. In 2000, the Composites Institute of Australia (CIA) moved to address this problem on a national level and initiated a programme to develop an Australian industry code of practice for the structural design of fibre composites. This paper discusses two of the initial topics addressed by this programme: the development of a national system of grading and certification for composite constituents, and an alternative approach to the characterisation of unidirectional lamina behaviour. The paper outlines the basis for investigation of each of these topics, and discusses the research approach that has been adopted. In the case of characterisation of lamina behaviour, the paper also presents initial results from associated experimental programmes.