Design requirements for bonded and bolted composite structures.

Abstract

This report provides an overview of different approaches and industrial codes of practice used for the design and analysis (including data requirements and methods of data generation) of bolted and bonded composite structures for use under monotonic, fatigue and creep (i.e. static) loading conditions. The report is concerned with the structural applications where adhesives or bolts are used to join primary load-bearing multi-component assemblies. It considers numerical and analytical solutions for the design and analysis of metallic and composite joints, and sandwich structures. Finite element analysis and closed-form analysis based design software are reviewed. The report provides recommendations as to the preferred design procedures currently practiced by industry to be used for the initial design of a generic joint configuration to be evaluated within the DTI funded Measurements for Materials project MMS11 'Design for Fatigue and Creep in Joined Systems'.