Definitions /Dictionary/Glossary - nptel

Insert: An integral part of a plastic molding consisting of metal or other material that may be
molded or pressed into position after the molding is completed.
Instron: An instrument utilized to determine the tensile and compressive properties of materials.
Integral Composite Structure: Composite structure in which several structural elements, which
would conventionally be assembled by bonding or with mechanical fasteners after separate
fabrication, are instead laid up and cured as a single, complex, continuous structure; e.g., spars,
ribs, and one stiffened cover of a wing box fabricated as a single integral part. The term is
sometimes applied more loosely to any composite structure not assembled by mechanical
fasteners.
Integral Heating: A system in which heating elements are built into a tool, forming part of the
tool and usually eliminating the need for an oven or autoclave as a heat source.
Interface: The boundary between the individual, physically distinguishable constituents of a
composite.
Interference Fit: A joint or mating of two parts in which the male part has an external
dimension larger than the internal dimension of the mating female part. Interlaminar- Existing
between two or more adjacent laminae.
Interlaminar: Between the laminae of a laminate.
Discussion: describing objects (e.g., voids), events (e.g., fracture), or fields (e.g., stress).
Interlaminar Shear: Shearing force tending to produce a relative displacement between two
laminae in a laminate along the plane of their interface.
Interlaminar Shear Strength: The maximum shear stress existing between layers of a
laminated material.
Intermediate Bearing Stress: The bearing stress at the point on the bearing load-deformation
curve where the tangent is equal to the bearing stress divided by a designated percentage (usually
4%) of the original hole diameter.
Intermediate Temperature Setting Adhesive: An adhesive that sets in the temperature range
from 30 to 100°C (87 to 212°F).
Inter-phase: The boundary region between a bulk resin or polymer and an adherend in which
the polymer has a high degree of orientation to the adherend on a molecular basis.
Inter-ply Cracks: Through-cracking of individual layers within a composite lay-up,
perpendicular to the ply interfaces.
Inter-ply Hybrid: A composite in which adjacent laminae are composed of different materials.