Adhesively Bonded Composite Structures: Process Control, Non Destructive Inspection, and Strength Effects

Quality, inspectability, and strength of adhesively bonded joints is discussed. Lap shear specimens with flaws possible during manufacture of bonded joints were fabricated and tested. Flaw included contamination and improper processing. Severity of the flaws was ranked by reduction in strength. The content of an on-going program to correlate non-destructive inspection response with strength significant flaws is suggested.