This book provides an understanding of the mechanical response and failure of continuous fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composites. It brings together the state of knowledge on failure of composites, drawing on the author’s extensive experience and insights gained from researching the behaviour of these fascinating materials. It explains the principles governing them to help readers understand failures when they do occur and, more importantly, to avoid them by taking account of the key characteristics in design, underpinning greater exploitation of composites—truly the materials of the future.

• Systematically treats all the potential failure modes in unidirectional and laminated composites.
• Focuses on experimental observations and examples of failure and describes key failure theories in an accessible way.
• Provides fundamental understanding to underpin the successful application of composites.
• Gives insight into the differences in behaviour between composites and metals.
• Presents test methods to measure strength and the factors affecting it.
• Brings together the state of knowledge and references to the latest research findings in one place.

Failure Mechanisms in Composites will be of interest to engineers and designers in industry already working with composites as well as those more familiar with metallic materials who would like to understand the differences in behaviour. It will also be relevant to a wide range of students and researchers including undergraduates undertaking projects or with a particular interest in the topic, master’s students in materials and structures, and doctoral students and specialists undertaking research in composites.