Rivet bonding workpiece stack-ups having one or more polymer composite workpieces
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsPei-chung Wang, Bradley J. Blaski, Richard C. Janis, Mark A. Voss
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of rivet bonding a workpiece stack-up that includes one or more polymer composite workpieces, such as carbon fiber composite workpieces, involves several steps. In one step, adhesive is applied to a surface of the workpiece stack-up. In another step, workpieces—including the polymer composite workpiece(s)—are brought together. In yet another step the adhesive is partially or more cured. A rivet is installed through the workpiece stack-up and through the adhesive in another step. The method strengthens the resulting rivet-bonded joint by minimizing or altogether precluding fracture, cracking, and/or delamination thereat.
Claims20
A method of rivet bonding a workpiece stack-up that comprises at least one polymer composite workpiece, the method comprising:
- applying an adhesive on at least one surface of the workpiece stack-up;
- bringing workpieces of the workpiece stack-up together with the adhesive situated between the workpieces;
- curing the adhesive to a partially-cured state;
- installing a rivet through the workpiece stack-up and through the adhesive while the adhesive is in the partially-cured state;
- and
- curing the adhesive after rivet installation to a fully-cured state.
A method of rivet bonding a workpiece stack-up that comprises at least one polymer composite workpiece, the method comprising:
- applying an adhesive on at least one surface of the workpiece stack-up;
- bringing workpieces of the workpiece stack-up together with the adhesive situated between the workpieces;
- curing the adhesive to a partially-cured state, wherein a ratio of lap shear strength of the adhesive in the partially-cured state to lap shear strength of the adhesive in a fully-cured state is less than approximately 70 percent (%);
- installing a rivet through the workpiece stack-up and through the adhesive while the adhesive is in the partially-cured state;
- and
- curing the adhesive after rivet installation to the fully-cured state.
A method of rivet bonding a workpiece stack-up that comprises at least one polymer composite workpiece, the method comprising:
- applying an adhesive on at least one surface of the workpiece stack-up;
- bringing workpieces of the workpiece stack-up together with the adhesive situated between the workpieces;
- curing the adhesive to a partially-cured state, wherein a ratio of lap shear strength of the adhesive in the partially-cured state to lap shear strength of the adhesive in a fully-cured state is less than approximately 70 percent (%);
- cutting a hole through the workpiece stack-up and through the adhesive while the adhesive is in the partially-cured state;
- inserting the rivet through the hole in the workpiece stack-up while the adhesive is in the partially-cured state;
- swaging a collar to a stem of the inserted rivet while the adhesive is in the partially-cured state;
- and
- curing the adhesive to a fully-cured state after rivet insertion and after collar swaging.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.