Defects and uncertainties of adhesively bonded composite joints

Abstract The increasing use of fibre reinforced polymer composite materials in a wide range applications increases the similar and dissimilar joints. Traditional joining methods such as welding, mechanical fastening riveting are challenging composites due to their material properties, heterogeneous nature, layup configuration. Adhesive bonding allows flexibility selection offers improved production efficiency from product design manufacture final assembly, enabling cost reduction. However, performance adhesively bonded structures cannot be fully verified by inspection testing unforeseen nature defects manufacturing uncertainties presented this method. These can manifest kissing bonds, porosity voids adhesive. As result, joints is often constrained conservative certification requirements, limiting potential weight reduction, cost-saving, performance. There need identify these understand effect when designing This article aims report categorise uncertainties, offering reader reliable inclusive source conduct further research, development probabilistic reliability-based optimisation, sensitivity analysis, defect detection process development.