ABSTRACT
Composite systems may be based on several kinds of materials such as metals, ceramics or polymers. There are numerous examples of naturally occurring composites such as wood, bamboo, bone, muscle, and various tissue combinations. Several tissues in the body which have high strength combined with flexibility consist of stiff fibers such as collagen embedded in
a lower stifthess matrix. The fibers are aligned in a manner that provides maximum stifhess in the direction of high loads and are able to slide past each other to provide the flexibility required. Bamboo and wood show a fibrillar structure, which is the source of high strength and stifhess. Contemporary engineering materials are generally micro-composites such as metallic alloys, toughened plastics and fiber reinforced plastics. The combination of high strength materials into a matrix of tough ductile material is the basis of providing strength and toughness to metallic alloys and reinforced engineering plastics.
