SAE International and the Composite Materials Handbook-17 Collaborate on Comprehensive Industry Resource on Composite Materials

WARRENDALE, Pa., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SAE International and the Composite Materials Handbook-17 organization have entered into an exclusive agreement for publishing the initial release of the "Composite Materials Handbook," referred to as "CMH-17." The handbook will be produced in print, electronic and DVD formats.

The handbook is a six-volume engineering reference tool, previously known as MIL-HDBK-17, that contains more than 1,000 records of the latest test data for polymer matrix (Volumes 1, 2, and 3), metal matrix (Volume 4), ceramic matrix (Volume 5) and structural sandwich (Volume 6) composites.

"We are pleased to be working together with CMH-17 through Wichita State University to publish and market this next generation of the Composite Materials Handbook," Kevin Jost, Editorial Director, SAE International, said. "The handbook has proven to be a valuable resource for aerospace engineers over the years, and we look forward to making it available to SAE International members and beyond."

Composite materials are made of two or more materials that have different physical or chemical properties that remain relatively intact when combined. Composite materials have been used by humans for thousands of years. The first such material is "wattle and daub," a building material comprising woven wooden lattice that is covered with a combination such as mud and straw. Other examples of composite materials include fiberglass, concrete, and paper-mache.

"CMH-17" has been developed over many years by an international consortium of leading engineering organizations. It constitutes an overview of the field of composites technology and engineering, which is advancing and changing rapidly. As a result, "CMH-17" will continue to evolve to reflect advances in technology. For this new edition (Revision G), several chapters were reorganized, several chapters were edited to reflect updated technology, and new content was added.

"The latest revision of CMH-17 includes 10 years of new data and updates," said John Tomblin, executive director of Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research. "It is a highly valuable tool for any aircraft composite development program, and we are pleased to be working with SAE to make it available to a mass market."

The primary purpose of the handbook is the standardization of engineering methodologies related to testing, data reduction, and reporting of property data for current and emerging composite materials. It is used by engineers worldwide in designing and fabricating products made from composite materials, particularly in the aerospace industry.

Volumes include:

• "Composite Materials Handbook Volume 1 – Polymer Matrix Composites: Guidelines for Characterization of Structural Materials" (R-422)
• "Composite Materials Handbook Volume 2 – Polymer Matrix Composites: Materials Properties" (R-423)
• "Composite Materials Handbook Volume 3 – Polymer Matrix Composites: Materials Usage, Design, and Analysis" (R-424)
• "Composite Materials Handbook Volume 4 – Metal Matrix Composites" (R-425)
• "Composite Materials Handbook Volume 5 – Ceramic Matrix Composites" (R-426)
• "Composite Materials Handbook – Volume 6 – Structural Sandwich Composites" (R-427)

In addition to publishing CMH-17 in print and electronic formats, SAE International will offer the volumes individually, as a six-volume set, and in other combinations of volumes to best suit the needs of industry. For more information on "CMH-17," email [email protected] or call 1-724-772-8522.

SAE International is a global association of more than 133,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™.

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Contact: Shawn Andreassi of SAE International, 1-724-772-8522 or [email protected]

SOURCE SAE International