DT ClassroomEnergy, materials, systems and devices
GCSE Design & Technology · Unit 2 · Lesson 5 of 8

Composite materials and technical textiles

Unit 2 · Energy, materials, systems and devices

Explore how combining materials changes performance. Concrete and reinforced concrete, GRP and CFRP, Kevlar, Gore-Tex, Nomex and conductive fabrics, with a 3D beam that loads until it fails. Click-by-click builds, answer reveals, and teacher notes and answers on every slide.

Open the interactive 3D lessonSample: teacher notes

What this lesson covers

Concrete and reinforced concrete, GRP and CFRP, Kevlar, Gore-Tex, Nomex and conductive fabrics, with a 3D beam that loads until it fails. Click-by-click builds, answer reveals, and teacher notes and answers on every slide.

60-minute lesson, 20 slides. Part of DT Classroom’s GCSE Design and Technology course, taught through an interactive 3D lab rather than static slides alone.

Practise and extend

Also available for this lesson from the teacher resources: lesson slides, knowledge organiser, worksheet.

Exam board coverage

Where this lesson sits in each GCSE Design and Technology specification, as an indicative mapping by DT Classroom (not endorsed by any board - check the current specification before relying on it).

BoardSpecification reference
AQA3.1.3 Developments in new materials
Edexcel1.4 Modern and smart materials, composites and technical textiles
OCR5.1 Main categories of materials
2.2 Developments in D&T that influence design decisions
WJEC EduqasTP2 Smart materials, composites and technical textiles
Cambridge International2.1.4 Composites
3.1.4 Composites

See the full specification map for every lesson and every board.

Other lessons in Energy, materials, systems and devices

DT Classroom is a GCSE Design and Technology course: interactive 3D lessons, teacher slide decks, worksheets and exam practice, built for pupils and teachers. Exam board references above are DT Classroom’s own indicative mapping, not provided or endorsed by AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC Eduqas.