Media

HKU Honorary Graduand Professor Mai Yiu Wing to give public lecture
on Understanding Composite Interfaces and
Improving Delamination Resistance of Composite Structures

11 Mar 2013

The University of Hong Kong Honorary Graduand Professor Mai Yiu Wing will give a lecture entitled “Understanding Composite Interfaces and Improving Delamination Resistance of Composite Structures” on March 15 (Friday).

 Professor Mai Yiu Wing will receive a Doctor of Science honoris causa at the University’s 188^th Congregation on March 14 (Thursday). He is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and University Chair at the University of Sydney, and an internationally recognised pioneer in fracture mechanics and materials science.

Details of the lecture are as follows:

Date: March 15, 2013 (Friday)
Time: 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Venue: T6, Meng Wah Complex, HKU

Lecture abstract

In polymer laminated composites, there are two types of interfaces which control their mechanical properties. The first, at the individual ply level, is the fibre/matrix interface; and the second, at the laminate level, is the ply-to-ply or interlaminar interface. These two interfaces, singly or conjointly, control the overall mechanical and fracture properties of all composite laminates and structures.

 The importance of the fibre/matrix interface is first reviewed; its role in controlling the strength, stiffness and toughness of fibre composites is discussed. Examples to illustrate the working principles for design of high strength/high toughness and crashworthy composites with large energy absorption capabilities are given.

 In many composite structures, interlaminar delamination is a major weakness influencing adversely their performance reliability. The ply-to-ply interface properties control the delamination resistance. Many methods have been proposed to increase the interface toughness in order to overcome this problem. These include use of rubber toughened matrices, interleaves, through-thickness stitching and z-pinning, and more recently the incorporation of different types of nano-sized fillers. The mechanics and mechanisms of these various methods, especially the crack-wake bridging model, and their effectiveness on suppressing delamination are explained.

Professor Mai Yiu Wing

Professor Mai Yiu Wing graduated from the University of Hong Kong with the degrees of BSc (Eng), First Class Honours and Williamson Prize in 1969, PhD in 1972 and DSc in 1999. He previously worked in the United States (University of Michigan and NIST), the United Kingdom (Imperial College) and Hong Kong (HKU, HKUST, CityU and PolyU). He is currently University Chair and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sydney.

 Prof Mai is a highly cited researcher in materials science and is distinguished for his seminal work on fracture mechanics and advanced composite materials. His research has contributed to the developments of new materials and testing standards as well as improved composites manufacturing processes. Professor Mai holds 2 US patents and has co-authored 5 research monographs. He was appointed AM (Order of Australia) in 2010 and is Fellow of the Royal Society of London and the Royal Academy of Engineering amongst others.

 For media enquiry, please contact Miss Kelly Lam, Senior Manager (Marketing and Communication), Faculty of Engineering at 2859 2435 or email: lamkelly@hku.hk; or Ms Trinni Choy (Assistant Director (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2606 / email: pychoy@hku.hk; or Ms Melanie Wan (Senior Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2600 / email: melwkwan@hku.hk.