Composite Joints and Connections

Introduction

P.P. Camanho and L. Tong

The increased use of polymer composite materials and fibre metal laminates in structural applications, and the corresponding advantages of using lightweight materials, requires the development of improved design methods for the critical design drivers of composite structures. Notwithstanding the fact that composite materials are well suited for integral manufacturing techniques, different parts still need to be connected using either bolted or bonded joints, one of the main design drivers for composite structures in terms of both strength and stiffness. Any improvement, from the development of new, more efficient materials to a deeper understanding of the mechanical response of the joints, will lead to ...