The latest book by West Virginia University engineering professor Ever J. Barbero fills an important gap in what has been written about the study of composite materials used for space shuttles, sporting goods, boating, civil aircraft and more.
Barbero is chair of the WVU Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
His recently published second book,Finite Element Analysis of Composite Materials,provides important guidance about structural and material behavior, as well as interpretation of analysis results in engineering terms.
Although computational tools such as ANSYS used by engineers and high-tech designers come complete with manuals that illustrate how to run the software, these instructions provide little interpretive guidance in terms of material behavior.
Nevertheless, such interpretation and analysis is crucial to all structural applications of composite materials used in space exploration, sports, boating and flight, among others. Thats where Barberos book fills an important need.
Structural applications today are being frequently switched from metals to composites, and designers have been forced to perform complex analysis with limited literature.
My first book has been used all over the world,Barbero said.My new book continues that reputation, but also will reach much deeper into the industrial sector because it’s about advanced analysis using finite elements, which are the staples of structural analysis in industry.
Since there is no other book like it, it will sell well to practitioners in industry as well as universities,he noted.
The WVU professors book describes in detail how to perform analysis of composite materials and structures using finite element analysis, specifically ANSYS , beyond what is available with preliminary analysis tools such as lamination theory.
The 360-page hardcover book discusses all major areas of finite element analysis, including three-dimensional effects, viscoelasticity, edge effects, delamination and elastic instability.
Accompanying the discussions are more than 50 complete examples, most using ANSYS but with a few examples of MATLAB , which illustrate the use of concepts to formulate and execute finite element analyses.
The textbook makes use of finite element methods, tools made necessary since detailed analysis is too complex to be solved with simple calculations or software. ANSYS , one of the most commonly used finite element analysis tools, minimizes the time needed to learn how to use the software itself and enables the user to concentrate on theory and applications of composite materials.
Barbero previously publishedIntroduction to Composite Materials Designin 1998, a book that described preliminary analysis and design of composite materials and structures. He has also authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications.
Barbero received his bachelors of science degrees in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering from National University UNRC in Argentina in 1983. He then received a doctorate in engineering mechanics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1989. He has been on the WVU faculty for 18 years.
Finite Element Analysis of Composite Materialsis published by CRC , which sells scientific, technical and medical books. It is available athttp://www.crcpress.com,http://www.amazon.com, and in bookstores with a retail price of $99.95.