We make composites for many reasons, including to optimize properties vs. price, for better properties along certain directions, to combine multiple properties into a monolithic component, and often because we cannot make a part completely out of just one component (too expensive, its actually weaker when big, etc.).

Youre asked to design a composite ski with continuous fibers aligned along the length of the ski (i.e. along one direction). You used Kevlar fibers that have a fracture strength of 3.6 GPa. They fill 24% of the volume of the part, while the rest is an epoxy resin matrix which has a fracture strength of 72 MPa. Calculate the fracture strength in MPa of the ski along its axis.