The NAFEMS Composites Working Group (CWG) is the focal point for NAFEMS activities relating to composite materials. The CWG joined other previously established NAFEMS technical groups in 2010 in response to the high level of activity by members using numerical methods in the analysis of composite materials.

This publication is the second in a series of omnibus volumes devoted to collecting significant papers from NAFEMS publications, conferences, and other events relating to Composites Simulation. The papers have been compiled and reviewed by the NAFEMS Composites Working Group (CWG), satisfying one its core mandates of creating awareness and education of composites simulation capabilities and needs.

NAFEMS has a wide variety of information sharing activities, including conferences, courses, webinars, seminars, workshops, and the Benchmark magazine. Composites simulation is an important part of many of these activities, and it can be difficult to see everything in every event or publication. In the first volume of NAFEMS Composites Simulation Review, articles were assembled from publications in 2013 through 2015. The review provides a single “one-stop-shop” where members can read about signif icant activities in composites simulation.

This second volume picks up where the previous left off, covering publications from 2015 through early 2018. The CWG identified previously published papers and articles from past NAFEMS events and the Benchmark magazine and selected 38 to be highlighted in this volume.

In this edition of NAFEMS Composites Simulation Review, articles have been drawn from:

• “Focus on Composites Special Edition”, a special edition from July 2015 of the NAFEMS quarterly publication Benchmark magazine.

• “2016 NAFEMS UK Conference”, held on 15-16 June 2016, in Telford, UK (extended abstracts only).

• “Practicalities of Analysing Composites”, a NAFEMS event held on 28 September 2016 (extended abstracts only).

• “NAFEMS World Congress 2017”, held on 11-14 June 2017, in Stockholm, Sweden.

• Articles from other editions of the Benchmark magazine up to January 2018.

The selected articles address a range of topics in composites simulation, including design, damage and failure, mechanics, and process-chain. These articles may have a focus on applications in the aerospace or automotive industries but provide insight for any scientists or engineers simulating composites in any sector.