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Essential References
Every composite library needs to cover a few basic topics: laminate analysis, manufacturing and testing. A broader handbook or two and a general engineering reference will round out the collection nicely. The books collected here are the ones I find myself turning to most of the time.

The Behavior of Sandwich Structures...
Graduate-level textbook covering the analysis of sandwich structures. Plates, beams, and shells; static, dynamic, and stability solutions. Includes special topics like optimization and local failure modes. By Jack Vinson. Compare prices.

The Behavior of Structures Composed of Composite Materials
Analysis of composite beams, plates, and shells. Includes solutions for a variety of boundary conditions and loadings for static, dynamic and stability problems. On my list of Essential References. By J.R. Vinson and R.L. Sierakowski. Compare prices.

Composite Basics - 5
Covers the basics of materials and manufacturing. Although written for the aircraft homebuilder, even experienced engineers will find a wealth of useful information. By Andrew Marshall. Compare prices.

Composites Engineering Handbook
1200+ pages covering the full range of composites topics including basic material properties, analytical methods, processing techniques, testing, design, joining, repair and machining. By P.K. Mallick. Compare prices.

Composites for Automotive Applications
This text from the Rapra Review Reports series presents an overview of the reasons for using composites in autos, as well as the specific types of materials and processes being used. An extensive bibliography is indexed by subject. By C.D. Rudd.

Crashworthiness of Composite Thin-Walled...Components
Literature review, experiments, and theoretical analyses of the energy absorbing behavior of some composite tubular components. The focus is primarily on failure analysis, with only a brief overview of vehicle crashworthiness. By A.G. Mamalis et.al. Compare prices.

Damage Tolerance in Advanced Composites
Damage tolerance concepts include damage resistance, sources and types of damage, damage propagation, and designing structures to operate with damage. Additional topics in the book include analytical methodology and damage evaluation. By R.L. Sierakowski and G.M. Newaz. Compare prices.

Design and Optimization of Laminated Composite Materials
This senior-level textbook goes beyond standard laminate analysis and shows how to design an optimum laminate to meet specific engineering requirements. Methods include Miki diagrams, integer linear programming and genetic algorithms.

Dynamic Loading and Characterization of...Composites
Primarily a review of the current literature and test methods for impact loading, but with enough detail to give at least a basic understanding of the topics. Other topics include damage detection and characterization, damage tolerance and impact damage modeling. By R.L. Sierakowski and S.K. Chaturvedi Compare prices.

Engineered Materials Handbook Volume 1: Composites
An encyclopaedic coverage of composites: materials, design, analysis, testing, damping, failure, fatigue, software, manufacturing, machining, assembly, quality assurance and more. On my list of Essential References. New edition coming out at the end of 2001. Published by ASM. Compare prices.

Engineering Mechanics of Composite Materials
An introductory text on laminate theory and my personal favorite. Good coverage of hygrothermal effects and material testing. Ample pictures, illustrations and practice problems. On my list of Essential References. By I.M. Daniel and O. Ishai. Compare prices.

European Composites Directory and Report 2002-2003
This comprehensive directory covers over 1500 composite suppliers, manufacturers and service providers in Western and Eastern Europe. The introductory market report provides an honest overview of the state of the industry. Edited by Nick Dellow.

Experimental Characterization of Advanced Composite Mat'ls
Coupon test procedures for elastic, strength, thermoelastic, open hole and delamination specimens. A good supplement to ASTM standards. By Carlsson and Pipes. Compare prices.

Fiber Metal Laminates: An Introduction
Thorough engineering coverage of Glare, a material consisting of alternating layers of aluminum and glass/epoxy. It is more of a handbook than an introduction. Compare prices.

Filament Winding Composite Structure Fabrication
This book from SAMPE provides a beginning to intermediate introduction to the process of filament winding. Topics range from materials to analysis to the design of pressure vessels. By Peters, Humphrey and Foral.

Formulas for Natural Frequency and Mode Shape
Like "Roark's Formulas," but the tables cover dynamic solutions for structure and fluid systems. Structures include cables, beams (straight and curved), membranes, plates and shells. Includes some orthotropic solutions. By Robert Blevins. Compare prices.

Glare: History of the Development of a New Aircraft Material
Glare is a fiber-metal laminate, and only the third new class of material to be used in primary aircraft structures. Ad Vlot presents a first-hand account of the development of Glare, and the political and economic challenges faced in getting it into a production aircraft. Compare prices.

Handbook of Composite Fabrication
This overview of composite manufacturing processes is more of an introduction to the topic than a true handbook. If you're learning about composite fabrication for the first time, this makes a good reference. Edited by Guneri Akovali.

The Handbook of Sandwich Construction
The one reference anyone who works with sandwich structures should own. Covers all important topics, including materials, design, analysis, manufacturing and testing. Edited by Dan Zenkert.

International Encyclopedia of Composites
This CD-ROM encyclopedia has over 200 articles in four broad topic areas: engineering materials; behavior and characterization; specialty applications; and design, manufacturing and fabrication. Edited by Stuart Lee.

An Introduction to Composite Materials
An introductory text that focuses on the physical meaning behind the formulas. The authors emphasize micromechanics, even when discussing laminate behavior. An excellent book, but it lacks some of the equations needed to be a stand-alone analytical reference. By D. Hull and T.W. Clyne. Compare prices.

Introduction to Composite Materials
A classic reference for laminate theory. Some of the notation is non-standard, but this is a good first book for undergraduate level courses. By S.W. Tsai and H.T. Hahn. Compare prices.

An Introduction to Composite Products
Focuses on products, not just materials or analysis. Covers the design process in general with lots of practical information for composites. The final chapter is a list of 66 hints and tips. By Kevin Potter. Compare prices.

Liquid Moulding Technologies
A very good book on RTM, SRIM, and similar processes. Introductory chapters provide background for those new to the field. The different processes are then covered in detail, with a good mix of theory and practical knowledge. By Rudd, Long, Kendall, and Mangin. Compare prices.

Manufacturing of Polymer Composites
A comprehensive overview of composite manufacturing processes. For each method, the author discusses the process, raw materials and molds, crosslinking, component characteristics, and applications. Includes chapters on QC, recycling and safety. A must-have book. By B.T. Åström. Compare prices.

Mark's Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers
The bible for all things mechanical. Major topics include mathematics, materials, fluids, heat, machinery, power, transportation and more. By E. Avallone and T. Baumeister, III. Compare prices.

Mechanical Testing of Composites
Focuses on the mechanics of testing, such as strain gaging, instead of test methods. Includes optical, acoustic, and thermal techniques. Some chapters cover methods, other cover theory. Final chapters cover destructive and nondestructive damage evaluation. Edited by C.H. Jenkins. Compare prices.

New Fibers
A history of synthetic fibers, from rayon (originally developed as a silk replacement) to modern high-tech fibers. Although the focus is on textile fibers, structural fibers such as carbon and Kevlar are covered briefly. By T. Hongu and G.O. Phillips. Compare prices.

Nondestructive Characterization of Composite Media
A theoretical and experimental introduction to the measurement of material properties using ultrasonic techniques. Some practical applications include direct measurement of stiffness matrix components and detection of non-uniform cure. By Ronald Kline. Compare prices.

Optimisation of Design of Composite Structures
Primarily a manual for the included optimization software. Algorithms are discussed briefly, but the only detailed examples use a brute-force approach to optimization. By Antonio Miravete. Compare prices.

Post Processing Treatment of Composites
Machining, joining and finishing are often the largest portion of total manufacturing cost. When they can't be eliminated, it is important to understand their proper application. This book reviews those processes as they are applied to composites. By Mel M. Schwartz.

Primer on Composite Materials Analysis
A classic text on laminate theory. Although written in a concise manner, the author provides many intuitive descriptions of composite theories. The practical information is useful even if you have other laminate theory texts. By John Halpin. Compare prices.

Principles of Composite Materials Mechanics
An introductory text on composite analysis with a few chapters of graduate-level material. Specialized topics include discontinuous composites, dynamics and fracture mechanics. Each chapter ends with a computational model. By Ronald Gibson. Compare prices.

Resin Transfer Molding
This collection of 19 papers from SAMPE covers the latest advances in RTM technology. This is not a practical handbook, but does present some interesting case studies on advanced applications of RTM. Number 3 in the SAMPE Monograph Series. Edited by S. Beckwith and W. Benjamin.

Rheology of Filled Polymer Systems
The study of the flow of matter, or rheology, is an important part of injection molding. This book covers the theory, measurement techniques and applications of rheology. Descriptions of equipment design and filled polymer systems make this a worthwhile reference. By Aroon Shenoy. Compare prices.

Roark's Formulas for Stress & Strain
The classic set of tables for static analysis of beams, plates, and shells. The seventh edition was released in 2001 and includes a new appendix on composites written by yours truly. By W. Young and R. Budynas. Compare prices.

SACMA Recommended Methods
Composite test methods published by SACMA covering strength, stiffness and physical properties. Supplements ASTM and other international standards.

Short Fibre-Polymer Composites
A useful reference for the novice and experienced injection molder alike. The bulk of the book describes the different types of fibers and matrices, shows how nonuniform fiber orientation arises, and how to get started on part design. The final chapter on specific applications makes for interesting reading. Edited by S.K. De and J.R. White. Compare prices.

Spatially Reinforced Composites
Spatially reinforced, or 3D, composites attempt to overcome the problems of poor out-of-plane and through-thickness properties. This book concentrates on the prediction of composite stiffness and strength based on 3D fiber geometry. Specialty topics include carbon-carbon and whiskerized (or fibrillated) composites. By Tarnopol'skii, Zhigun and Polyakov.

Structural Analysis of Shells
Like "Roark's Formulas," but the tables cover static and stability solutions for shells. Includes primary (membrane) and secondary (edge bending) solutions, plus special solutions like shell beams. Good coverage of orthotropic shells, but the notation is non-standard. By E.H. Baker, L. Kovalevsky, and F.L. Rish. Compare prices.

Theory of Composites Design
An introductory text on composite analysis. Primarily a condensed version of Tsai's "Composites Design," without many of the advanced topics. Includes some new material, such as laminate analysis using sublaminates. By Stephen Tsai. Compare prices.