Sustainable Composites for Lightweight Applications

1st Edition - November 22, 2020
Authors: Hom Nath Dhakal, Sikiru Oluwarotimi Ismail
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 1 8 3 1 6 - 8
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 1 8 3 1 7 - 5

Carbon and glass fibre reinforced composite materials have been used for many years in several different types of applications. However, these conventional composites are de… Read more

Sustainable Composites for Lightweight Applications

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Carbon and glass fibre reinforced composite materials have been used for many years in several different types of applications. However, these conventional composites are derived from non-renewable reinforcements and they pose a significant threat to the environment. Government legislation and consumer behaviour have recently forced many industries to adapt sustainable composites. Industries such as automotive, marine and aerospace are now seeking sustainable lightweight composites with the aim to reduce the overall weight of the components with enhanced materials and design aspects. Therefore, there is high demand on research for the development of sustainable lightweight composites.

This book presents a comprehensive review of lightweight composites with the central aim to increase their use in key industrial sectors such as automotive, marine and aerospace. There is no such book currently available that is dedicated to sustainable lightweight applications covering important topics such as key drivers for lightweight composites, mechanical properties, damage characterisation, durability and environmental aspects. Key topics that are addressed include:

The roles of reinforcements and matrices in composite materials

Sustainable natural fibre reinforcements and their morphological structures

Lightweight applications and properties requirements

Design, manufacturing processes and their effects on properties

Testing and damage characterisation of composite materials

Sustainable composites and techniques for property enhancement

Future trends and challenges for sustainable composites in lightweight applications

It will be a valuable reference resource for those working in material Science, polymer science, materials engineering, and industries involved in the manufacture of automotive and aerospace components from lightweight composite materials.

Hom Nath Dhakal

Professor Hom Nath Dhakal is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Portsmouth. He leads the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Research Group. He is also a Docent (Visiting) Professor of Biobased Composite Materials at the Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business at the University of Borås, Sweden. He was also a Visiting Professor with the University of Toronto, Canada in 2017, where he worked in the Faculty of Forestry, undertaking research work in the field of composites and biocomposites. His expertise include the design and development of sustainable lightweight composite materials, and their testing and characterisation. His research has benefited many industries through the development of a range of new sustainable materials, formulations and manufacturing processes. Professor Dhakal has published in over 150 international peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and conference proceedings. He has been a guest editor for a number of journals and I'm a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Composites Science, Journal of Research on Engineering Structures & Materials, and the Material Chemistry section of the Journal of Molecules. He also serves as a member of scientific committees and as an evaluator for various research projects. Professor Dhakal is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a member of the American Society for Composites (ASC), and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining (IOM3) (FIMMM). He has over 30 years of teaching and research experience in the field of mechanical engineering, materials and manufacturing.

Affiliations and expertise

Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

Sikiru Oluwarotimi Ismail

Dr Sikiru O. Ismail is currently a Senior Lecturer in Manufacturing Engineering and Materials at School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom. He is a member of Mechanical Engineering Subject Group and Centre for Engineering Research. He completed his Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, University of Portsmouth, England, UK, after obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the same University, as a scholarship researcher with prestigious awards such as Paper Publication Prizes: Best Student Paper and First Place Awards at both School of Engineering and Faculty of Technology levels. Prior to his doctoral degree, he obtained National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology with Distinction Grade; Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering (Production) with First Class Honours Division; and Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Design and Production) with Distinction Grade. He was an Overall/Best Student in all his degree programmes, among other outstanding prizes. Moreover, Dr Ismail has several years of professional (industrial, research and academic/lecturing) experiences, having worked in many sectors. His research specialisation focuses on Advanced and Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing (Mechanical) Engineering: Design, Development, Testing, Damage Characterisation and Optimisation of materials (especially composites), Innovative Manufacturing Processes / Monitoring and Optimisation of Manufacturing Processes, using Experimental and Numerical Simulation/Finite Element/Analytical Modelling Techniques. He has successfully supervised many undergraduate and postgraduate projects. He has successfully won research grants/funding and scholarships. In addition, he has published/presented several articles in local/international conferences and reputable high impact factor Journals as well as Book Chapters. Dr Ismail is a Reviewer and Editorial Board Member of many reputable local/international journals (such as Composites Part B: Engineering, among others) and conferences. He is a qualified Advance Higher Education Internal and External Examiner, UK. He also obtained Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Furthermore, Dr Ismail is a Member, Chartered Engineer and Fellow of many national/local and international professional bodies. These organisations include, but are not limited to, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (MASME, USA), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (MIMechE, UK), American Society for Composites (MASC, USA), Institution of Engineering and Technology (CEng MIET, UK), Higher Education Academy (FHEA, UK), Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA, UK). Summarily, Dr Ismail is an astute Senior Lecturer, erudite researcher and very passionate in processing excellence out of his students as well as solving engineering problems through cutting edge research.

Affiliations and expertise

Senior Lecturer in Manufacturing Engineering and Materials at School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom.