Composite Materials are made up of two materials, one of which is called the reinforcing phase and is made up of fibers, sheets, or particles, and the other is called the matrix phase and is embedded in the reinforcing phase. Metal, ceramic, or polymer can be used as the reinforcing and matrix materials.
Reinforcing materials are usually strong and have low densities, whereas the matrix is usually ductile or rough. If the composite is properly planned and constructed, it combines the reinforcement’s strength with the matrix’s toughness to achieve a combination of desirable qualities not found in any single traditional material.
For example, the design of a structure may necessitate both strength and toughness, which have an inverse relationship and cannot be represented by a single material. When no one conventional material can meet all of the design requirements for a given application, a composite material may be the best option.
Composites can be made with a wide range of elastic modulus, strength, and toughness combinations due to the variety of available reinforcing and matrix materials, as well as the ability to blend them in a large range of volume fractions.
The only disadvantage of composites is that they are frequently more costly than traditional materials.
Advantages of Using Composite Materials in Civil Engineering
The advantages of composite materials in civil infrastructure is not only technologically sound, but also financially feasible. The following is a list of the economic impacts that will result from the use of composite construction.
- Installation and building costs are reduced.
- Maintenance costs are reduced.
- Insurance liability is reduced.
- Ability to be tailored to a specific demand.
- Raw material market expansion.
- They may be engineered to have specific qualities in certain directions.
- Development and commercialization of service equipment for composite structural inspection.
Types of Composites
Composites are primarily divided into two types: matrix and reinforcement. These two groups encompass a wide range of composite materials. The following are some of the most commonly used composites in civil engineering.
- Reinforced Carbon-Carbon
- Metal Matrix Composites
- Ceramic Matrix Composites
- Organic Matrix Composites
- Engineered Wood
- Plastic-Impregnated Composites
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Uses of Composite Materials
Composite materials are known to be more environmentally friendly than traditional civil engineering materials such as steel, masonry, and plaster. Steel structural degradation in strength and stiffness due to corrosion necessitates periodic inspection, maintenance, and repair.
Similarly, stress cracking caused by hot/cold weathering reduces the service life of concrete structures. Using composite materials in concrete structures reduces property and life damage caused by earthquakes. Some of the more uses of different composite materials are mentioned below.
- Existing infrastructure is being retrofitted and/or reinforced with composite materials.
- Corrosion-resistant pipes and tanks are also made of composite materials.
- Carbon fibres are used as a matrix for compressor blades in gas turbines, together with epoxy resins or metals such as aluminium.
- Custom-fabricated composites are being used for cladding panels and building facades by forward-thinking enterprises.
- Flat composite laminates can be attached to the reinforced concrete deck’s outer surface to boost its bending stiffness.