Monocoque

A composite of carbon fibre in a polymer matrix, usually epoxy, offering very high stiffness and strength for low weight. CFRP is used for primary aircraft structure, motorsport chassis, wind turbine spar caps and bonded strengthening plates for existing buildings and bridges.

A composite construction in which two thin, stiff skins are bonded to a thick, lightweight core such as foam, honeycomb or balsa. Separating the skins raises bending stiffness dramatically for very little added weight.

The thin, stiff facing laminate on each side of a sandwich structure, carrying the in-plane and bending loads while the core carries shear. The term is also used more generally for the outer aerodynamic or weathering surface of a composite structure.

The process of placing reinforcement plies into or onto a mould in the specified sequence and orientation, by hand or by machine; also used as a noun for the resulting stack or its design. Hand layup with wet resin remains the basic process for GRP boat building and GRP roofing.