In article ,
(Allan Morrison) wrote:

Can anyone see an advantage using aluminum windowscreen for a layer or
layers in a composite structure.
The outer layer(s)could be fiberglass where exterior smoothness is
required.
At ~0.5 oz per ft^2 it should be useful for something where high
strength to weight is desired.
Has it been used in some previous design?
Comments please.


If you count on the aluminum adding strength to the structure, be sure
that it has the same modulus of elasticity as the rest of the composite
material, else one will be taking up far more load than the other.

Example: If you have a 2 lb brick and attempt to support it with a
rubber band that will take 1.5 lb and a spring that will take 1.5 lb, in
parallel, the arrangement should support 3 lb, right?

WRONG! The rubber band will carry very little of the load until the
spring breaks; then the rubber band will carry more load than it can
handle.