Joining Composite Structures

Abstract

The excellent performance record which has been established by composites over the last 30-40 years is acknowledged by an ever-increasing commitment to the creation of ever larger structures which must function effectively for prolonged periods. Adhesive bonding is one method which can be used to assemble the parts and it is known to be very successful. However, in a world where production costs are forever under pressure, it is essential to know the limiting parameters eg. surface treatments and adhesive selection. The paper discusses basic issues such as these in relation to bonding protrusions.