Low shock explosive joint systems

A method of attaching a structure having a flange to another structure and of releasing said structures from each other without creating high shock pulses that could damage said structures, said method comprising:

• adhesively bonding said flange to said other structure by applying a layer of adhesive between a side surface of said flange and a surface of said other structure;
• positioning an expandable member between said surfaces and, in a direction parallel to said surfaces, between an outer end of said flange and said layer;
• and
• expanding said member perpendicular to said surfaces, to peel said flange away from said other structure to peel said layer and thereby release said structures from each other.

A method of attaching a wall of a first structure to a wall portion of a second structure, said wall having an inner skin, an outer skin, and a core between said skins, and of releasing said structures from each other without creating high shock pulses that could damage said structures, said method comprising:

• adhesively bonding an outer end portion of said outer skin to an outer surface of said wall portion by applying a first layer of adhesive between said outer skin and said outer surface;
• adhesively bonding an outer end portion of said inner skin to an inner surface of said wall portion opposite said outer surface by applying a second layer of adhesive between said inner skin and said inner surface;
• positioning a first expandable member between said outer skin and said outer surface and, in a direction parallel to said outer surface, between the outer edge of said outer skin and said first layer, and positioning a second expandable member between said inner skin and said inner surface and, in a direction parallel to said inner surface, between the outer edge of said inner skin and said second layer;
• and
• expanding said first and second members perpendicular to said outer surface and said outer skin and to said inner surface and said inner skin, respectively, to peel said outer end portions away from said wall portion to peel said layers of adhesive and thereby release said structures from each other.