MIL-HDBK-17-3E (VOL. 3 OF 3), DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HANDBOOK: POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES - MATERIALS USAGE, DESIGN, AND ANALYSIS (25 FEB 1994)., This handbook is for guidance only. This handbook cannot be cited as a requirement. If it is, the contractor does not have to comply. This mandate is a DoD requirement only; it is not applicable to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or other government agencies. Volume 3 of MIL-HDBK-17 provides methodologies and lessons learned for the design, manufacture, and analysis of composite structures and for utilization of the material data provided in Volume II consistent with the guidance provided in Volume I. The information provided is included primarily as background and as a basis for consistent use of terminology, notation, and methodology and is not offered for regulatory purposes. The volume represents a compilation of the relevant composites design, manufacture, and analysis experience of engineers and scientists from industry, government, and academia. The scope of Volume 3 is limited to the introduction of concepts, methodologies, and potential pitfalls in the manufacture and analysis of composites. Chapter 2, Materials and Processes, defines major material systems and processing methods. Effects of various processing parameters on final composite product performance are emphasized. Chapter 3, Quality Control of Production Materials, reviews important issues related to quality control in the production of composite materials. It reviews recommended manufacturing inspection procedures and techniques for material property verification and statistical quality control. Chapter 4, Design and Analysis, addresses the design and analysis of various composite systems. It provides an overview of the current techniques and describes how the various constituent properties reported in MIL-HDBK-17 are used in the design and analysis of a composite system. From micromechanics to simple laminate constructions, it presents standard analyses which provide a common nomenclature and methodology basis for users of MIL-HDBK-17. Chapter 5, Design and Analysis of Structural Joints, describes accepted design procedures and analytical methods for determining stresses and deformations in structural joints for composite structures. Chapter 6, Structural Reliability, discusses some of the important factors affecting composite structure reliability including static strength, environmental effects, fatigue, and damage tolerance. Chapter 7, Thick-Section Composites, details methods of thick-section laminate analysis, thick-section structural analysis techniques, physical property requirements for three-dimensional analysis, experimental property determination techniques, and process simulation techniques and models. Chapter 8, Supportability, considers the design for and the design of repairs in composite structures based on maintainability and reliability. It provides guidelines to the designer of new structures with support- ability/maintainability in mind, and it provides the information relevant to cost-effective repair procedures. Appropriately concluding Volume 3 is Chapter 9, Lessons Learned, which addresses a variety of issues related to earlier topics providing a depository of knowledge gained from a number of involved contractors, agencies, and businesses.