1987 ASC Second Technical Conference Recap – University of Delaware

The Second Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites (ASC) was held from September 23–25, 1987, at John M. Clayton Hall, University of Delaware, in Newark, Delaware. Jointly sponsored by the ASC and the University of Delaware’s Center for Composite Materials, the event was co-chaired by Professor Roy L. McCullough and Dale W. Wilson.

This conference built upon the success of ASC’s inaugural event, emphasizing the transition of composite materials from laboratory-scale research to practical engineering and production. A total of 63 presentations were delivered across 21 technical sessions. Of these, 55 were published as full papers and 8 as abstracts in the proceedings, which were noted for their timely and high-quality publication.

Reflecting the growing industrial relevance of composites, five sessions were devoted to processing and process modeling. Characterization and nondestructive evaluation featured prominently with four sessions, alongside four sessions on damage mechanics and fracture. Other sessions explored interfacial engineering, structural design, laminate failure, and the mechanical behavior of metal and ceramic matrix composites.

Highlights from Selected Sessions

• Fracture Testing – Whitney & Short and Becht & Gillespie introduced new interlaminar fracture test configurations with practical implications.
• Theoretical Advances – Sun, Manoharan, Nairn, and Palley presented fracture mechanics frameworks for orthotropic and unidirectional systems, although experimental data were limited.
• Interface Engineering – Banerjee, Kalantar & Drzal provided micromechanical insights into interfacial bonding; Raghava addressed the design of controlled interphases.
• Impact Response – Four papers addressed delamination, dynamic stress fields, and sandwich plate behavior under impact conditions.

Processing and Characterization

• Processing science dominated the program, including studies on cure kinetics, resin flow modeling, and in-situ monitoring with acoustic, dielectric, and ultrasonic techniques.
• Thermoplastic forming, diaphragm molding, and squeeze casting processes (e.g., Smiley & Pipes; O’Bradaigh & Mallon) reflected the drive toward scalable manufacturing.
• Prosser & Green applied ultrasound to characterize nonlinear elastic properties—an early example of smart sensing in composites.

The conference proceedings demonstrated the increasing maturity of the field, with an emphasis on manufacturing science, reliability, and interdisciplinary modeling. Papers were grouped into topics such as Processing Science, Materials Science, Characterization, Mechanics, Durability, and Design.

➤ View List of Conference Papers (PDF)

Preface

Composites are expected to enable significant advances in space programs, military systems, commercial aircraft and ground transportation. A key feature of composites technology is the op portunity to tailor and optimize performance through the controlled combination of a wide range of fibers, matrices, and reinforcing geometries. The realization of these opportunities requires highly coordinated efforts drawn from the traditional scientific and engineering disciplines. The American Society for Composites was formed in 1985 to provide a much-needed forum for interdis ciplinary exchanges among the members of the scientific and engineering communities involved with composites. A major service of our Society is the convening of an annual technical conference.

In this volume are the Proceedings of the Second Annual Conference jointly sponsored by the American Society for Composites and the University of Delaware Center for Composite Materials. The papers contained in these Proceedings cover a range of interdisciplinary topics in Processing Science, Materials Science, Characterization, Mechanics, Design and Analysis, Durability and Nondestructive Evaluation. This collection of papers reflects the scope of composites research and presents accomplishments in developing a sound scientific and engineering basis for composites. The symposium chairmen and the officers and organizing committees of the American Society for Composites express their appreciation to the speakers and attendees for their contributions to this conference.

Conference Leadership

• Symposium Co-Chairmen: Roy L. McCullough and Dale W. Wilson
  Center for Composite Materials
  University of Delaware
  Newark, Delaware 19716

Officers of the Society (1987)

• President: James M. Whitney
• Vice-President: Charles E. Browning
• Secretary & Treasurer: Som R. Soni

Organizing Committee

• R. Bauerle (Inland Division, GM)
• David Bonner (BF Goodrich)
• Charles E. Browning (USAF Materials Laboratory)
• Lawrence T. Drzal (Michigan State University)
• Robert Evans (American Cyanamid Company)
• Norm Johnston (NASA)
• Keith Kedward (Alcoa Defense Systems)
• W. C. Loomis (SAIC)
• L. McKague (General Dynamics)
• T. K. O'Brien (US Army Research & Technology Labs)
• J. Pigliacampi (DuPont)
• 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 (USAF Materials Laboratory)
• Robin Whitehead (Northrop)
• Dick J. Wilkins (University of Delaware)

References

1. Bader, M. G. (1988). Proceedings of the American Society for Composites Second Technical Conference, University of Delaware, 23–25 September 1987. Composites Science and Technology, 33, 73–74.
2. American Society for Composites. (1987). Proceedings of the Second Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites, September 23–25, 1987, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware. Technomic Publishing Company.