1990 ASC Fifth Technical Conference Recap – Michigan State University

The Fifth Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites (ASC) was held from June 12–14, 1990, at the Holiday Inn, 300 MAC, in East Lansing, Michigan. The conference was chaired by Professor Lawrence T. Drzal of Michigan State University and organized with support from a diverse technical committee representing academia, government, and industry.

This conference marked a key moment in the evolving mission of ASC. While earlier meetings had focused heavily on aerospace applications, the 1990 program reflected a deliberate shift toward broader engineering challenges and commercial applications. The preface emphasized the growing importance of high toughness, cost-efficiency, and manufacturability over traditional high-stiffness/low-weight criteria. Composite materials were increasingly viewed as enablers for innovation beyond aerospace—including durable goods, transportation, and infrastructure.

Program Themes

• New emphasis on composite processing, performance modeling, and manufacturability
• Expanded scope to include biotechnology, ceramics, cementitious composites, and automotive applications
• Targeted sessions on damping, impact, thermal effects, durability, and cost-effective fabrication

Notable Session Topics

• Vibration and Damping – Treatments for vibration control using constrained layers and interlaminar stress studies
• Biotechnology – Use of seashells as natural composites, spider silk proteins, and microbial surface treatments
• Processing Science – Microwave curing, filament winding, powder prepregging, and resin transfer molding
• Impact and Damage Tolerance – Simulation of delamination, energy absorption under side loads, and dynamic impact modeling
• Thermal Behavior – Thermal transport and conductivity in advanced ceramic and carbon matrix systems

The proceedings captured not only the current state of composite science but also its aspirations to meet future challenges. The integration of AI-based modeling, environmental durability, and interdisciplinary approaches signaled a turning point in ASC’s trajectory toward applied innovation.

➤ View Full List of Conference Papers (PDF)

Conference Leadership

• Conference Chair: Professor Lawrence T. Drzal, Michigan State University

ASC Officers (1990)

• Dick J. Wilkins – President
• James H. Starnes – Vice President
• Robert L. Sierakowski – Recording Secretary
• C. T. Sun – Membership Secretary
• Dina N. Kapur – Treasurer
• John W. Gillespie, Jr. – Editor
• Carl Zweben – Executive Committee
• Lawrence T. Drzal – Executive Committee

Local and Technical Committees

• G. Cloud, M. Hawley, N. Altiero, D. Liu, J. Beck, B. Ho, K. Mukherjee, I. Jasiuk, M. Subramanian
• M. Gandhi, T. Pence, R. Narayan, J. Sticklen, K. Jayaraman, P. Soroushian, E. Case
• Student Tours: M. Rich | Publicity: R. Summitt | Local Arrangements: M. Van Wormer, A. Klingbiel, J. Mulvaney

Preface Excerpt

The future for composites is undergoing a transition... Aerospace performance criteria such as high stiffness and strength with low weight are being replaced with high toughness, efficient manufacturability, and low cost. This conference builds upon a strong foundation in mechanics and introduces advances in processing, biotechnology, and system-level performance to prepare composites for broader engineering use.

References

1. American Society for Composites. (1990). Proceedings of the Fifth Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites, June 12–14, 1990, East Lansing, Michigan. Technomic Publishing Company.