A composite material is a compound material of at least two components (constituents) or materials that are joined together using a specific manufacturing process to form a new material. The mechanical behaviour of the resulting new material is naturally determined by the properties of the constituents and, in contrast to the individual constituents, generally has improved or optimized properties. Such composite materials can be found in a whole range of engineering applications. For example, reinforced concrete components in civil engineering are structures in which the concrete is reinforced by steel reinforcements. The strength and stiffness properties of structural steel are many times higher than those of unreinforced concrete. Composite materials in the form of fiber-reinforced plastics are widely used in lightweight engineering and construction, particularly in the aerospace industry. In this case, fibers are embedded in a matrix material.