Fastening apparatus and method
AssigneeMaterials Sciences Corporation
InventorsGerald Flanagan, Anthony Caiazzo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The Invention is a fastening apparatus and method for transferring a load to a core of a composite structure, such as a composite panel used in ship construction. The apparatus comprises an insert. The insert is adapted to receive a tension load and adapted to transfer the tension load substantially to the core of the composite structure. The strain response characteristics of the insert in tension generally minimize the strain response of the core in shear.
Claims30
A fastening apparatus for transferring a tension load to a composite structure, the apparatus comprising:
- an insert, said insert being adapted to receive the tension load, the composite structure having a core, said insert being adapted to transfer substantially all of the tension load to said core.
A fastening apparatus for transferring a tension load to a composite structure having a core, the apparatus comprising:
- a. an insert, said insert being adapted to accept the tension load;
- b. a side wall defined by said insert, said insert having an axial dimension, said side wall defining a plurality of side wall locations along said axial dimension, said side wall having a pre-determined stiffness at each of said side wall locations, said pre-determined stiffness being selected to introduce a substantially uniform shear stress in the core in response to the tension load when said insert is bonded to the core.
A method of transferring a load to a composite structure having an inner skin, a core and an outer skin, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. preparing an opening in the inner skin and the core;
- b. adhesively bonding an insert within said opening, said insert having a first end and a side wall, said first end being adapted to receive the load, said side wall being bonded to said core, said insert not being bonded significantly to said inner skin or to said outer skin.
A method for making a generally cylindrical insert to transfer a design tension load to a core of a composite structure, the insert having a side wall and a top, the method comprising:
- a. designing the insert to have a stiffness of the side wall in an axial dimension, said stiffness of said side wall being selected so as to be greater than said stiffness of a plug of the core;
- b. manufacturing the insert consistent with said design.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.