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Design and Stress Calculations for Bonded Joints

2006; Elsevier BV; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s1874-5695(06)80014-x

1874-5695

R.J. Moulds,

Design Education and Practice

Richard Moulds graduated in chemistry whilst studying epoxy technology with Shell Research. He focussed on Civil Engineering applications by joining Tarmac and continued to study Polymer Technology at the South Bank University, London. Five years later he returned to Shell to develop a range of epoxy based building products. In the early 1970s, Richard was transferred to a new enerprise with Avdel Adhesives as Product Manager for epoxy based adhesives for use in industry. Avdel Adhesives became Permabond when acquired by Unilever and subsequently, Bondmaster following a transfer to ICI. The benefits of enhanced toughness using dispersed phase low modulus rubbers was established and commercialised in projects like the first all bonded car (British Leyland’s ECV3) and the bonded carbon fibre drive shaft concept following design studies with Harwell Technology. This technology was expanded by working with Imperial College, London, to understand how an adhesive could outperform welding in many circumstances provided that the distribution of stress within a joint was fully understood. This valuable work gained commercial acceptance following its use in bonding light weight bicycle frames for the American team at the Los Angeles Olympics, where the press publicised the associated gold medal achievements as ‘the unfair advantage’. Richard worked with many industrial partners to encourage the bonding process in design circumstances where the increased performace available with adhesives provided improved, economic and durable structures. This was exemplified when he was selected as the adhesive consultant for the Thrust SSC project, where the world land speed record was raised by 130 mph to match the speed of sound. The art of creating structures is limited by the selected technique of fastening components together. We all have a concept of robust and dependable assemblies based on real life experiences, but is a spot welded car or an aircraft wing covered in rivets really the best way to hold materials together. As we learn more about the concept of bonding and the utilisation of the total surface area to accommodate stress, there is an increasing need to step back and consider the implications of changing to bonding. The following pages show how simple models can be used to guide design engineers in their quest for economic, dependable products.