Some years ago in Paisley (Scotland) the International Conference on Composite Materials, headed by Professor I. Marshall, took place. During the conference, I presented a paper on the manufacturing and properties of the Soviet Union's composite materials. Soviet industry had made great achievements in the manufacturing of composite materials for aerospace and rocket applications. For example, the fraction of composites (predominantly carbon fibre reinforced plastics) in the large passenger aircrafts Tu-204 and 11-86 is 12-15% of the structure weight. The percentage by weight share of composites in military aircraft is greater and the fraction of composites (organic fibre reinforced plastics) used in military helicopters exceeds a half of the total structure weight. The nose parts of most rockets are produced in carbon-carbon materials. In the Soviet spacecraft 'Buran' many fuselage tubes are made of boron-aluminium composites. Carbon-aluminium is used for space mirrors and gas turbine blades. These are just a few examples of applications. Many participants at the Paisley conference suggested that the substantial Soviet experience in the field of composite materials should be distilled and presented in the form of a comprehensive reference publication. So the idea of the preparation and publication of a six volume work Soviet Advanced Composites Technology, edited by Professor I. Marshall and me, was born.

1 Main technological aspects of the manufacture of composite parts and assembly.- 1.1 Materials-science aspects of composite-structure design.- 1.2 Technological concepts and development of production.- 1.3 Application of composites in passenger aircraft structures.- References.- 2 Technology for prepreg production of semifinished products of polymeric composite materials.- 2.1 Classification of methods for prepreg production.- 2.2 PCM semifinished products obtained by liquid-phase combination of binders.- 2.3 PCM semifinished products obtained by solid-phase combination of components.- 2.4 Equipment for production of prepregs.- References.- 3 Forming of parts and components of fibre composites by winding.- 3.1 Process theory and classification of part-forming methods.- 3.2 Formatting pressure.- 3.3 Surface reinforcing lines.- 3.4 Classification of winding processes.- 3.5 Factors defining winding-component and prepreg properties: basic technological conditions and control of the winding process.- 3.6 Control of the winding process.- 3.7 Equipment for product forming by winding.- - Principles of operation of equipment. Technical data.- - Forming of parts and components of fibre composites by winding.- 3.8 Winding-process automation: process programming on NC machines and preparation problems in control programs for reinforcing.- References.- 4 Shape-forming and curing of composite-material parts.- 4.1 Physical and chemical mechanisms of vacuum-autoclave moulding.- 4.2 Mathematical modelling of the structure-manufacturing process through vacuum-autoclave moulding.- 4.3 Development of working processes in part manufacture by vacuum-autoclave moulding.- References.- 5 Machining of polymer-composite materials.- 5.1 Polymer-composite material (PCM) as the object ofmachining.- 5.2 Tool materials and cutting tools for PCM machining.- 5.3 Choice of cutting conditions in PCM machining.- 5.4 Special PCM machining methods with material removal.- References.- 6 Composite-material part joining.- 6.1 Joint classification: types of joints and their applications.- 6.2 Mechanical-joint design.- 6.3 Riveted joints in composite-material structures.- 6.4 High-stress bolted joints.- 6.5 Adhesive-joint design.- 6.6 Combined-joint design.- 6.7 Technological developments in joint strength.- 6.8 Technology of riveted-joint formation.- References.- 7 Non-metallic-based honeycomb cores.- 7.1 Polymeric-paper-based honeycomb cores.- 7.2 Fibre-glass-cloth-based honeycomb cores.- 7.3 Honeycomb-core application in aircraft structures.- References.- 8 Non-destructive testing or composites parts.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Acoustic methods.- 8.3 Microwave method.- 8.4 Electrical methods.- 8.5 Radiation methods.- 8.6 Infrared and thermal methods.- 8.7 Holographic method.- References.- 9 Three-dimensional tooling.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Design of composite thin-walled tooling for manufacture of metal-polymeric line-forming parts.- 9.3 Forming tooling-structural diagrams.- 9.4 Design and analysis of thin-walled tooling structures.- 9.5 Shell analysis for the action of local loads.- 9.6 Tooling analysis for the action of functional loads.- 9.7 Supporting-structure wall thickness for stability under compressive forces.- 9.8 Stiffness analysis and selection of tooling-frame structural parameters.- References.