1989 ASC Fourth Technical Conference Recap – Virginia Tech

The Fourth Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites was held from October 2–5, 1989, at the Donaldson Brown Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI) in Blacksburg, Virginia. The event was chaired by Professor K. L. Reifsnider and co-sponsored by the Virginia Technical Center for Composite Materials and Structures, the Virginia Institute for Materials Systems, and the Allied-Signal Corporation.

The conference drew approximately 200 participants and featured nearly 100 technical papers from seven countries. The central theme focused on Composite Materials Systems, emphasizing the functional interactions between constituents and the importance of system-level design. Presentations spanned a broad range of topics, including thermoplastic crystallization kinetics, interphase modeling, nonlinear structural analysis, damage mechanics, performance simulation, and manufacturing processes. The technical program was complemented by displays, lab tours, and tutorials, offering attendees hands-on engagement and exposure to emerging research directions.

• Dr. H. W. Bergman – “New Materials and Structural Concepts for Space Transportation Systems” (DFVLR, West Germany)
• Professor R. J. Diefendort – “High Temperature Advanced Structural Composite Systems” (ONR/DARPA HITASC)
• Dr. Frank Crossman – “Computer Integrated Composites Engineering and Manufacturing” (Lockheed Missiles and Space)

One of the most engaging moments came during the closing session on biomaterials. Remarkably well-attended for the final slot of a multi-day technical conference, the session reflected growing interdisciplinary interest in natural and engineered biological composite systems.

The 1989 event also marked a step forward in international collaboration, with a Soviet delegation presenting several high-quality papers. At the conference dinner, Dr. N. J. Pagano of Wright-Patterson Air Force Laboratories was awarded the ASC Prize for outstanding contributions to composite materials science.

Proceedings were published in a 994-page hardbound volume, edited by Professor J. Morton and produced by Technomic Publishing. Submitted as camera-ready copy and largely laser-printed, the volume was praised for its archival quality. The plenary lectures were not included in the printed record.

View List of Conference Papers

• Held at VPI, over 50% of attendees were affiliated with the host institution.
• Fewer than 25% of participants represented industry or government organizations.
• The ASC’s engagement with the Soviet Union was formally acknowledged through invited research presentations and technical discussions.

Conference Chair
Dr. Kenneth L. Reifsnider
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics

Award Recipient
Dr. N. J. Pagano
Wright-Patterson Air Force Laboratories
Honored for foundational work in micromechanics and longstanding contributions to the field of composites.

• Professor K. L. Reifsnider (General Chair)
• Professor J. Morton (Editor, Proceedings)
• Virginia Technical Center for Composite Materials and Structures
• Virginia Institute for Materials Systems
• Allied-Signal Corporation

1. Harris, B. (1990). American Society for Composites Fourth Technical Conference, Blacksburg, Virginia, 2–5 October 1989. Composites Science and Technology, 38, 291–292.
2. Morton, J. (Ed.). (1989). Proceedings of the American Society for Composites: Fourth Technical Conference – Composite Materials Systems. Technomic Publishing Company, Inc., Lancaster, PA. ISBN: 0-87762-717-7.