University of California, Irvine
Compared to other joining methods, bonding composite structures with adhesives distributes the load over a larger bond area, reduces weight, joins dissimilar materials and provides higher stiffness and toughness. Bonding also generally reduces manufacturing costs. However, when using adhesive bonding for composites it can be very difficult to determine if the bonded joint meets structural requirements without destroying the part.
UCI researchers used MSC Nastran and Patran to simulate the operation of quantitative percussion testing to reduce the need for physical testing and eliminate the potential for manufacturing errors.