ASC 1986 First Technical Conference

The first technical conference of the American Society for Composites took place from October 7–9, 1986, at the Marriott Hotel in Dayton, Ohio, one year after the formal establishment of the Society on January 15, 1985. This inaugural event was attended by approximately 200 scientists and engineers, predominantly from the United States, with international participants from Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Italy. Attendees were encouraged to join the Society, resulting in an enrollment of about 240 members at the time.

The conference was chaired by Dr. Charles E. Browning from the Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories. Professor James M. Whitney from the University of Dayton served as the first president of the society from 1986 to 1988. At the time of the conference, Dr. Browning was serving as Vice-President, and Som R. Soni from AdTech Systems Research Inc. as Secretary & Treasurer of the society.

Technical Sessions

• Session I – Advances in Composite Materials Technology I (6 papers)
• Session II – Advances in Composite Materials Technology II (6 papers)
• Session III – Advances in Modeling of Composites Processes (7 papers)
• Session IV – Advances in Composite Interfaces (7 papers)
• Session V – Damage Tolerance of Composites I (6 papers)
• Session VI – Damage Tolerance of Composites II (6 papers)

➤ View Full List of Conference Papers (PDF)

The conference proceedings spanned nearly 500 pages. The preface highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of composite materials research and the need for a dedicated technical society. It noted the rapid growth of composite materials technology and the increasing replacement of traditional materials like metals in various applications.

Highlights from Selected Papers

• Molecular Composites – T.R. Helminiak introduced rod-like aromatic polymers dispersed at nanoscale dimensions, aiming to enhance mechanical performance.
• Process Monitoring – H.T. Hahn demonstrated ultrasonic cure monitoring. C.Y.-W. Lee presented a computer-based expert system for autoclave feedback control.
• Interfacial Mechanics – W.D. Bascom reported distinct adhesion behavior between carbon fibers in thermoplastics, providing insight into debonding and critical length phenomena.
• Damage Mechanics – G.S. Springer and J. Goering introduced finite element models using Tsai-Wu theory. Springer developed a user-friendly damage prediction software.
• Matrix Cracking – C.T. Sun showed that adhesive interleaves reduced interlaminar stress and improved strength by 30%.
• Fatigue and Delamination – T.K. O’Brien found delamination resistance in PEEK reduced under fatigue, mainly due to residual thermal stresses.
• Micromechanics Models – K.L. Reifsnider introduced the Critical Element Concept, combining micromechanics and continuum mechanics for fatigue prediction.

Proceedings Preface by Dr. Charles E. Browning

"Composite materials technology, which encompasses many interdisciplinary activities, has experienced unparalleled growth in recent years. Composites are increasingly replacing traditional materials such as metals in various applications, evolving from decorative uses to critical performance roles in advanced aerospace systems.

As the technology has grown, many professional organizations have conducted workshops and conferences on composite materials. However, no single organization has devoted itself solely to the broad spectrum of technical activities associated with composite materials technology. As a consequence, a new technical society, The American Society for Composites, has been formed with the goal of providing a forum for information dissemination and communication to and within the scientific and engineering community involved in research and development activities in composite materials and their applications. Special emphasis is to be placed on the interdisciplinary aspects of composite materials technology.

One of the principal activities of our new society is an annual technical conference. This proceedings is noteworthy in that it contains the papers presented at the first conference. Sessions were devoted to the subject areas of Advances in Materials Technology, Advances in Modeling of Composite Processes, Advances in Composite Interfaces, and Damage Tolerance of Composites. The interdisciplinary aspects of composite materials technology are apparent by the diversity of papers within these sessions, which included topics such as thermoplastic matrix composites, molecular composites, biotechnology, process modeling, interfacial chemistry, low velocity impact behavior, interlaminar fracture toughness, life prediction, and more.

The symposium chairman and the officers and organizing committee of the society wish to express their gratitude to the speakers and attendees for making this first conference a success."

Conference Leadership

Symposium Chairman
Dr. Charles E. Browning
Materials Laboratory
Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories

President of the Society
Professor James M. Whitney
University of Dayton
Department of Civil, Environmental and Engineering Mechanics

Organizing Committee

• R. Bauerle (Inland Division, GM)
• Charles E. Browning (US Air Force Materials Laboratory)
• Lawrence T. Drzal (Michigan State University)
• Robert Evans (American Cyanamid Company)
• Norm Johnston (NASA)
• Keith Kedward (Alcoa Defense Systems)
• L. McKague (General Dynamics)
• T. K. O'Brien (US Army Research & Technology Laboratories)
• J. Pigliacampi (Du Pont)
• R. Byron Pipes (University of Delaware)
• Yapa Rajapakse (US Naval Research)
• K. L. Reifsnider (VPI&SU)
• B. Walter Rosen (Materials Sciences Corporation)
• James C. Seferis (University of Washington)
• Som R. Soni (AdTech Systems Research Inc.)
• George Springer (Stanford University)
• C. T. Sun (Purdue University)
• Stephen W. Tsai (US Air Force Materials Laboratory)
• James M. Whitney (US Air Force Materials Laboratory)
• Dick J. Wilkins (University of Delaware)

References

1. Bascom, W.D. (1987). First conference on composite materials, Dayton, OH, USA, 7–9 October 1986. Composites, 18(2), 175–177.
2. American Society for Composites. (1986). Proceedings of the First Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites, October 7–9, 1986, Marriott Hotel, Dayton, Ohio. Lancaster, PA: Technomic Publishing Company.
3. Ohio Secretary of State. (n.d.). Business Search. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://businesssearch.ohiosos.gov/