Integrated Product Development with Fiber-Reinforced Polymers

This book presents the basics of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP). The author presents the material-specific advantages of FRP and the typical areas of their application. The problems created by conventional, non-integrating product development are listed and the author states how these problems are potentially overcome by integrated product development (IPD). In addition, it is explained why IPD is of particular importance for FRP. An approach to IPD for FRP-parts is presented. It is explained step by step how a catalogue of requirements is defined as well as how this basis is used to develop a concept, a design, and a final construction. Simple but effective methods for the selection of fiber materials, semi-finished products and manufacturing processes are highlighted in this book. A concluding chapter describes an approach to techno-economic evaluation. Throughout the book, practical application examples show the reader how to put the gained knowledge into practice.