CA18120 - Reliable roadmap for certification of bonded primary structures (CERTBOND)

With the increasing pressure to meet unprecedented levels of eco-efficiency, aircraft industry aims for superlight structures and towards this aim, composites are replacing the conventional Aluminium.The same trend is being followed by civil, automotive, wind energy, naval and offshore industry, in which the combination (or replacement) of steel with composites can increase the strength-to-weight ratio. However, the joining design is not following this transition. Currently, composites are being assembled using fasteners. This represents a huge weight penalty for composites, since holes cut through the load carrying fibres and destroy the load path. Adhesive bonding is the most promising joining technology in terms of weight and performance. However, its lack of acceptance is limiting its application to secondary structures, whose failure is not detrimental for the structural safety. In primary (critical-load-bearing) structures, fasteners are always included along bondlines, as “back-up” in case the bond fails. The main reasons for this lack of acceptance are the limited knowledge of their key manufacturing parameters, non-destructive inspection techniques, damage tolerance methodology and reliable diagnosis and prognosis of their structural integrity. The Action aims to deliver a reliable roadmap for enabling certification of primary bonded composite structures. Despite the motivation being aircraft structures, which is believed to have the most demanding certification, it will directly involve other application fields in which similar needs are required. This Action will tackle the scientific challenges in the different stages of the life-cycle of a bonded structure through the synergy of multi-disciplinary fields and knowledge transfer.