Fatigue of hybrid (adhesive/bolted) joints in SRIM composites

This paper presents a study on the static and fatigue performance of adhesi ve/bolted (hybrid) joints in a structural reaction injection molded composi te. It is shown that the hybrid joints have a higher static failure load an d longer fatigue life than the adhesive joints. However, the performance of hybrid joints depends on the washer design. Washers that provide full late ral clamping pressure over the entire overlap area have a better performanc e than those that provide partial lateral clamping pressure. Finite element analysis of adhesive joints shows that the presence of lateral clamping ca n significantly reduce the maximum peel stress at the adhesive-substrate in terface and thus help in achieving improved joint performance. (C) 2001 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.