The Effect of Carbon Fibre Composites on Design

Extract

In trying to assess the effect of a new material on design there is little past experience on which to draw: the only time when a really new material was introduced was when light alloy began to replace wood as a major structural material. Nevertheless, a few general conclusions can be drawn from this period. Although in the long term considerable changes in structural form may be anticipated, there is unlikely to be any sudden dramatic change in design thinking, rather, such changes will be introduced as a result of continuing development soundly based on previous experience. Improvements in design and analytical techniques will play their part, but the dominant influence will be an increasing awareness and appreciation of the material characteristics; the best ways to use the properties of the material and the manufacturing techniques to which it lends itself.