Composite Joint Structure Using Adhesive Thickness Plates

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of composite material plates with increased thickness is complex and costly, requiring additional materials and restricting the rate of thickness change, making it difficult to achieve a lightweight and cost-effective joint structure resistant to large shear loads.

Innovation Solution

A joint structure for composite members is developed by adhering a plate for increasing thickness to one or both sides of the composite member, which increases the bearing area and reduces manufacturing complexity, allowing for a lightweight and low-cost design that can withstand large shear loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If the thickness of the composite material plate is increased to increase the bearing area, then the bearing contact pressure is suppressed under acceptable values, but the production becomes complex and costly requiring additional materials and tapered lamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing contact pressureVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The solution divides the thickness increase into separate segments: the base composite material plate maintains its original uniform thickness, while additional thickness is provided by separate plates (first and second plates) attached to opposite surfaces. This segmentation avoids the complexity of tapered lamination while achieving the required bearing area increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second plates act as intermediary elements that provide additional thickness without being part of the original composite lamination structure. These plates are attached to the composite material plate surfaces, serving as mediators to increase bearing area without requiring complex integration into the composite manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the thickness of the composite material plate is increased to increase the bearing area, then the joint structure can resist large shear loads, but additional materials are required and the weight of the composite material plate is necessarily increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshear load resistanceVSAvoidweight of composite material plate
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The additional thickness is applied locally only at the joint portions where bearing area is needed, rather than increasing the thickness of the entire composite material plate. The first and second plates are positioned specifically at the joint locations, providing localized reinforcement that increases shear load resistance without unnecessarily increasing the weight of non-critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the thickness of the composite material plate is increased to increase the bearing area, then the joint structure can resist large shear loads, but the production cost increases due to complex manufacturing processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshear load resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The structure is segmented into the base composite material plate and separate attachable first and second plates. This segmentation allows the additional thickness-providing plates to be manufactured independently using standard processes, avoiding the need for expensive and complex tapered lamination integration into the composite manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second plates serve as intermediary components that can be attached to the composite material plate using conventional joining methods. This approach separates the thickness-providing function from the composite manufacturing process, allowing each component to be produced using appropriate, cost-effective methods for its material type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The joint structure effectively suppresses excessive bearing contact pressure, providing a lightweight, cost-effective, and easy-to-manufacture solution that is resistant to large shear loads without the need for increasing the composite material's thickness.

Implementation Method 1

a plate for increasing thickness adhered to at least one side of the composite member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2799728B1Joint structure for composite
Publication Date: 2020.02.05 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD
  • EP2799728B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP2799728B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2799728B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A joint structure for a composite member having a light-weight and low-cost structure, easy to manufacture, and resistible against a large shear load, is provided. A joint structure (1) for a composite member made from a composite material, comprising a plate for increasing thickness (40a, 40b) adhered to at least one side of the composite member (10); wherein the composite member (10) and a counterpart member (20) are fastened together by inserting and fixing a fastener member (30) into a through-hole (24, 26) formed through the composite member (10), the plate for increasing thickness (40a, 40b), and the counterpart member (20) to be joined to the composite member.