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At least 19 records

Design and fabrication of realistic adhesively bonded joints

Eighteen bonded joint test specimens representing three different designs of a composite wing chordwise bonded splice were designed and fabricated using current aircraft industry practices. Three types of joints (full wing laminate penetration, two side stepped; midthickness penetration, one side stepped; and partial penetration, scarfed) were analyzed using state of the art elastic joint analysis modified for plastic behavior of the adhesive. The static tensile fail load at room temperature was predicted to be: (1) 1026 kN/m (5860 1b/in) for the two side stepped joint; (2) 925 kN/m (5287 1b/in) for the one side stepped joint; and (3) 1330 kN/m (7600 1b/in) for the scarfed joint. All joints were designed to fail in the adhesive.

Shyprykevich, P.↗

Global-Local Finite Element Analysis for Thermo-Mechanical Stresses in Bonded Joints

An analysis of adhesively bonded joints using conventional finite elements does not capture the singular behavior of the stress field in regions where two or three dissimilar materials form a junction with or without free edges. However, these regions are characteristic of the bonded joints and are prone to failure initiation. This study presents a method to capture the singular stress field arising from the geometric and material discontinuities in bonded composites. It is achieved by coupling the local (conventional) elements with global (special) elements whose interpolation functions are constructed from the asymptotic solution.

Shkarayev, S.↗

Design/Analysis of the JWST ISIM Bonded Joints for Survivability at Cryogenic Temperatures

A major design and analysis challenge for the JWST ISIM structure is thermal survivability of metal/composite bonded joints below the cryogenic temperature of 30K (-405 F). Current bonded joint concepts include internal invar plug fittings, external saddle titanium/invar fittings and composite gusset/clip joints all bonded to M55J/954-6 and T300/954-6 hybrid composite tubes (75mm square). Analytical experience and design work done on metal/composite bonded joints at temperatures below that of liquid nitrogen are limited and important analysis tools, material properties, and failure criteria for composites at cryogenic temperatures are sparse in the literature. Increasing this challenge is the difficulty in testing for these required tools and properties at cryogenic temperatures. To gain confidence in analyzing and designing the ISIM joints, a comprehensive joint development test program has been planned and is currently running. The test program is designed to produce required analytical tools and develop a composite failure criterion for bonded joint strengths at cryogenic temperatures. Finite element analysis is used to design simple test coupons that simulate anticipated stress states in the flight joints; subsequently the test results are used to correlate the analysis technique for the final design of the bonded joints. In this work, we present an overview of the analysis and test methodology, current results, and working joint designs based on developed techniques and properties.

Bartoszyk, Andrew↗

Progressive Damage Modeling of Durable Bonded Joint Technology

The development of durable bonded joint technology for assembling composite structures for launch vehicles is being pursued for the U.S. Space Launch System. The present work is related to the development and application of progressive damage modeling techniques to bonded joint technology applicable to a wide range of sandwich structures for a Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle. The joint designs studied in this work include a conventional composite splice joint and a NASA-patented Durable Redundant Joint. Both designs involve a honeycomb sandwich with carbon/epoxy facesheets joined with adhesively bonded doublers. Progressive damage modeling allows for the prediction of the initiation and evolution of damage. For structures that include multiple materials, the number of potential failure mechanisms that must be considered increases the complexity of the analyses. Potential failure mechanisms include fiber fracture, matrix cracking, delamination, core crushing, adhesive failure, and their interactions. The joints were modeled using Abaqus parametric finite element models, in which damage was modeled with user-written subroutines. Each ply was meshed discretely, and layers of cohesive elements were used to account for delaminations and to model the adhesive layers. Good correlation with experimental results was achieved both in terms of load-displacement history and predicted failure mechanisms.

Leone, Frank A.↗

Out of Plane Stresses Using a Beam-Based Elastic Foundation Bonded Joint Model

Efficient, semi-analytical models of bonded joints are utilized for initial joint design and sizing due to their convenience and speed. Many of these models are based on beam and plate theories, which are most applicable when in-plane stresses/strains dominate. While this can be a sensible assumption for obtaining the deformations of the joint, out of plane (transverse) stresses are often of critical importance for failure in bonded joints composed of fiber reinforced composite materials. Since through-thickness strains are neglected in these semi-analytical theories, the present study shows a method to back-calculate the out of plane stresses based on stress balance equations, which use the in-plane stresses and displacements that have already been obtained. The method was implemented within the Joint Element Designer (JED) software, and verification and validation examples have been shown. As is typical for these types of models, corner stress singularities are not captured by the JED model, but the general trends of the stress and deformation fields agreed with a higher fidelity finite element model. As such, this method for obtaining out of plane stresses, when coupled with the JED code, is very useful for the complete stress analysis of bonded composite joints.

composites↗

Viscoelastic analysis of adhesively bonded joints

An adhesively bonded lap joint is analyzed by assuming that the adherends are elastic and the adhesive is linearly viscoelastic. After formulating the general problem a specific example for two identical adherends bonded through a three parameter viscoelastic solid adhesive is considered. The standard Laplace transform technique is used to solve the problem. The stress distribution in the adhesive layer is calculated for three different external loads, namely, membrane loading, bending, and transverse shear loading. The results indicate that the peak value of the normal stress in the adhesive is not only consistently higher than the corresponding shear stress but also decays slower.

Delale, F.↗

Material Variability Effects on Damage Development Within Composite Adhesively Bonded Joints

Use of composite adhesively bonded joints (ABJ) is of critical importance to the adoption of composite materials in the automotive industry, as ABJ enable lower stress concentrations as compared to conventional mechanically fastened joints. ABJ are better suited for joining composite materials as compared to fastened joints because fastened joints require drilling of holes which locally affect composite material structure. Composite materials and adhesives are subject to unavoidable stochastic local material variations which make different failure scenarios possible. An experimentally tested ABJ configuration is simulated using finite element analysis (FEA). Experimentally, under tension, the joints failed by three major failure modes, with peak loads ranging from 13.0-16.1 kips. Progressive failure analysis tools are used to simulate damage development within each material within the joint. The simulation agreed well with the average experimental peak load. Stochastically occurring adhesive porosity and matrix-fiber micro-disbonding were numerically simulated. The simulations revealed a similar trend as observed experimentally: joints which failed at higher peak loads had lower levels of damage within the face-sheets of the composite panels which were adhesively bonded; these joints which failed at higher peak loads also had greater damage in the doubler of the experimentally tested double lap joint configuration.

Richard Larson↗

Software Tools for Analysis of Bonded Joints

Linear and nonlinear springs have been used to model adhesives in bonded joints. This presentation describes two programs which obtain stresses and strains in bonded joints. For a given bonded joint model, these programs read the corresponding NASTRAN input and output files, use the spring forces or deformations to obtain the adhesive stresses or strain fields, sort the stresses and strains in descending order, and generate Mathematica plot files for three dimensional visualization of the stress and strain fields.

Tahmasebi, Farhad↗

Manufacturing Process Development for Adhesively Bonded Joints in Large-Scale Space Structures

In order to take full advantage of the weight savings and performance gains offered by the use of composite materials in large-scale space structures, adhesively bonded joints must be considered. While bonded joint manufacturing at laboratory scale can be straightforward, the same manufacturing processes are not trivial at full scale. Surface preparation becomes particularly challenging (a viable process must yield consistent results over a large application area and be repeatable for multiple application sites), as does the application of heat to cure the doublers and/or bond them to the primary structure (the nature and scale of assembled or partially assembled aerospace structures often necessitates an out-of-oven/out-of-autoclave approach). In this work, bonded joint manufacturing processes are adapted for a full-scale (approximately 30 feet in diameter at the aft end) composite payload adapter at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. By iterating across a range of variables, process parameters for adhesively bonded joints on a large-scale composite structure have been developed. Primary findings are presented with respect to overarching bonded joint manufacturing concepts so as to maximize the applicability of this work to similar material systems and structures.

Guin, William E.↗

Testing and Analysis Correlation of a Large-Scale Composite Sandwich Longitudinal Bonded Joint for Space Launch Vehicle Structures

The NASA Composite Technology for Exploration (CTE) Project is developing and demonstrating critical composite technologies with a focus on composite bonded joints; incorporating materials, design/analysis, manufacturing, and tests that utilize NASA’s expertise and capabilities. The project has goals of advancing composite technologies and providing lightweight structures to support future NASA exploration missions. In particular, the CTE project will demonstrate weight-saving, performance-enhancing composite bonded joint technology for Space Launch System (SLS)-scale composite hardware. Advancements from the CTE project may be incorporated as future block upgrades for SLS structural components. This paper discusses the details of the development of a composite sandwich bonded longitudinal joint for a generic space launch vehicle structure called the CTE Point Design. This paper reports on the large-scale longitudinal bonded joint test articles that were fabricated and tested under axial compressive loading conditions to test the capability of the bonded joint design for buckling and joint failure. Test and analysis correlation of an as-manufactured undamaged longitudinal bonded joint panel are presented in the paper for tests to the onset of buckling and panel failure. Analysis predictions for buckling initiation and panel failure were both within 10% of the longitudinal bonded joint panel test results. This testing and analysis provide confidence in the potential use of composite bonded joints for future launch vehicle structures.

David W Sleight↗

A study of strength evaluations of EDNi/EDCu/NARloy-Z bonded joints

Dissimilar material interfaces can be found in many materials and structural bonds such as composite materials, welded parts, inclusion in matrix, bond between metallic and ceramic materials, and so forth. One of such structural bonds can be seen in the main combustion chamber (MCC) of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME). In this study, from a practical sense, the primary concern is to understand the systems response of EDNi/EDCu/NARloy-Z bonded joints using stress values approximated by the finite element method to determine an influence of the variation of structural bond parameters on the bonded joints, and consequently main combustion chamber of the Space Shuttle Main Engine. The results presented in this study could be an appropriate indicator for a good bond of EDNi/DECu/NARloy-Z layers with the desired thickness of copper deposition in the SSME MCC manufacturing process. Furthermore, the results from this study appear to be applicable to any bonded joints that can be characterized by the parameters and assumptions used in this analysis.

Min, J. B.↗

Automation Tools for Finite Element Analysis of Adhesively Bonded Joints

This article presents two new automation creation tools that obtain stresses and strains (Shear and peel) in adhesively bonded joints. For a given adhesively bonded joint Finite Element model, in which the adhesive is characterised using springs, these automation tools read the corresponding input and output files, use the spring forces and deformations to obtain the adhesive stresses and strains, sort the stresses and strains in descending order, and generate plot files for 3D visualisation of the stress and strain fields. Grids (nodes) and elements can be numbered in any order that is convenient for the user. Using the automation tools, trade-off studies, which are needed for design of adhesively bonded joints, can be performed very quickly.

Tahmasebi, Farhad↗

Advances in the analysis and design of adhesive-bonded joints in composite aerospace structures

Several aspects of adhesive-bonded joint analysis and design are presented from the reference of size of structure or load intensity. This integrates the individual characterizations of double-lap, single-lap, stepped-lap, tapered-lap and scarf joints. The paper includes an overview of bonded joint selection from the standpoints of design, fabrication, and processing, each bearing in mind the influence of such considerations on the strength of the joint. A case study is presented of the optimization of a specific relatively thick titanium-to-graphite epoxy stepped-lap joint, using the digital computer analysis program A4EG. The factors accounted for are adhesive plasticity, adherend stiffness imbalance, adherend thermal mismatch, and change of material properties within the range of temperature environment and with load direction. The strength increases obtainable by refining the initial design are demonstrated.

Hart-Smith, L. J.↗

Testing and Analysis Correlation of Composite Sandwich Longitudinal Bonded Joints for Space Launch Vehicle Structures

The NASA Composite Technology for Exploration (CTE) Project has been developing and demonstrating critical composite technologies with a focus on joints; incorporating materials, design/analysis, manufacturing, and tests that utilize NASA expertise and capabilities. The CTE project has focused on the development of composite longitudinal bonded joint technologies for conical structures such as the SLS Payload Attach Fitting (PAF) due to challenging joint geometries and loads compared to cylindrical jointed structures. The CTE team selected and designed a double-lap composite bonded joint as the most advantageous longitudinal joint to advance for the CTE project. This paper reports on the longitudinal bonded joint sub-element test articles that were fabricated and tested for several loading conditions to test the capability of the bonded joint design. Test and analysis correlation to the sub-element test articles are presented in the paper.

Sleight, David W.↗

Design of bonded joints in composite materials

The primary form of joining high strength advanced composite materials is adhesive bonded joints. The stepped bonded joint is an efficient configuration where the adhesive and composite matrix are co-cured. A design procedure for this type of joint is described along with the analysis technique upon which it is based. A modified elastic analysis accounts for the nonlinear behavior of the adhesive. A computer program with minimum running time and simplified input is utilized for analysis and becomes an efficient link in an iterative design procedure. Comparisons between analytical results and test results are shown. Material properties which are needed for design and methods of measuring these properties are discussed.

Corvelli, N.↗

Fatigue behavior of adhesively bonded joints

The fatigue damage mechanism of composite to composite adhesively bonded joints was characterized. The mechanics of the possible modes of fatigue damage propagation in these joints when subjected to constant amplitude cyclic mechanical loading were investigated. The possible failure modes in composite bonded joints may be cyclic debonding (i.e., progressive separation of the adhesive), interlaminar damage (delamination), adherend fatigue or a combination of these. Two composite systems - graphite/epoxy adhesively bonded to graphite/epoxy and Kevlar 49/epoxy adhesively bonded to Kevlar 49/epoxy were investigated. Both composite systems consisted of quasi-isotropic lay-ups, i.e., 0 deg/-45 deg/+45 deg/90 degs. The two adhesives, employed in the study were (1) EC 3445 with cure temperature of 250 F for secondary bonding and (2) FM 300 with cure temperature of 350 F for co-cure bonding.

Mall, S.↗

Design/Analysis of Metal/Composite Bonded Joints for Survivability at Cryogenic Temperatures

A major design and analysis challenge for the JWST ISM structure is the metal/composite bonded joints that will be required to survive down to an operational ultra-low temperature of 30K (-405 F). The initial and current baseline design for the plug-type joint consists of a titanium thin walled fitting (1-3mm thick) bonded to the interior surface of an M555/954-6 composite truss square tube with an axially stiff biased lay-up. Metallic fittings are required at various nodes of the truss structure to accommodate instrument and lift-point bolted interfaces. Analytical experience and design work done on metal/composite bonded joints at temperatures below liquid nitrogen are limited and important analysis tools, material properties, and failure criteria for composites at cryogenic temperatures are virtually nonexistent. Increasing the challenge is the difficulty in testing for these required tools and parameters at 30K. A preliminary finite element analysis shows that failure due to CTE mismatch between the biased composite and titanium or aluminum is likely. Failure is less likely with Invar, however an initial mass estimate of Invar fittings demonstrates that Invar is not an automatic alternative. In order to gain confidence in analyzing and designing the ISM joints, a comprehensive joint development testing program has been planned and is currently running. The test program is designed for the correlation of the analysis methodology, including tuning finite element model parameters, and developing a composite failure criterion for the effect of multi-axial composite stresses on the strength of a bonded joint at 30K. The testing program will also consider stress mitigation using compliant composite layers and potential strength degradation due to multiple thermal cycles. Not only will the finite element analysis be correlated to the test data, but the FEA will be used to guide the design of the test. The first phase of the test program has been completed and the preliminary analysis has been revisited based on the test data In this work, we present an overview of the test plan, results today, and resulting design improvements.

Bartoszyk, Andrew E.↗