The Berkeley Composites Laboratory (BCL) conducts research on the fundamental behavior, analysis, design, processing, fabrication, and testing of composite materials and structures. In addition, the laboratory supports the teaching of courses in composites, materials, design, and manufacturing.
 

            Today, BCL has several professors, research associates, graduate and undergraduate students which form a multidisciplinary team who share a common interest in advanced materials. Research programs and proposal efforts are initiated by members of this multidisciplinary team.

            Our mission is to

• Conduct basic research on the behavior of materials, structures and mechanical systems to develop fundamental understanding of the underlying processes and mechanisms.

• Develop low-cost processing techniques for advanced materials.

• Develop solutions to engineering problems through the use of advanced materials and creative design.

• Liaison with relevant world-wide industrial corporations, government laboratories and universities to keep abreast of the latest developments.

• Disseminate findings through conferences, journal publications, seminars and courses.

The broad areas of research conducted at BCL are given below. Details can be found by clicking on Research.

• Fatigue and fracture of composites and nanocomposites.

• Sustainable composites for structural applications.

• Modelling biology and the biology/synthetic materials interface.

• Materials for solar and wind renewable energy generation.

• Ultra-light dimensionally stable precision composites for spacecraft.

• Biomimetic design and synthesis.

• Rapid processing of heterogeneous nano-scale and micro-scale assemblies.

 

© 2009 Berkeley Composites Laboratory
Background is adapted from a micrograph that shows a vacuum processed, void-free, glass-fiber/epoxy composite.[Dharan, ASTM STP-569 , 1975]