Composite Materials (Book with DVD)

A composite material is a material made from two or more constituent materials with signi cantly di erent physical or chemical properties that, when combined, produce a material with characteristics di erent from the individual components. Composite materials, often shortened to composites, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with signi cantly di erent physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or microscopic scale within the  nished structure. Composites have unique advantages over monolithic materials including high strength, high sti ness, long fatigue life, low density, and adaptability to the intended function of the structure. Because of these properties, composite materials lend themselves to a wide range of applications across numerous industries.