Wed, 19 February, 2020
TWI has helped with the creation of Composites UK’s Good Practice Guide for the joining of fibre reinforced polymer composites (FRPs). Supported by funding from the National Composites Centre (NCC), the guide was written by TWI’s Chris Worrall, Ewen Kellar and Charlotte Vacogne and edited by Stella Job of Grazebrook Innovation/Composites UK.
The guide helps composites designers and engineers to consider the various joining solutions available as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the available techniques. The guide provides designers, manufacturers and clients with the necessary information to engage with joining experts in order to create the most effective joining strategy possible.
The 78-page document covers topics including:
Speaking in the guide, Chris Worrall from TWI noted, ““TWI is delighted to have been asked to write the Composites UK Joining guide and to pass on some of the experience gained over many years helping our Industrial Members solve their joining problems. It is hoped that this guide will not only help companies design better joints today but also stimulate further research required to improve joining composites in the future.”
Elsewhere, Composites UK’s Stella Job said, “Composites UK is keen to share good practice and help industry access advice, thus developing confidence so that markets for composites are increased. This guide provides foundational knowledge of joining techniques relevant to composites which should make it easier for companies to produce reliable structures from composite parts.”
TWI and Composites UK would like to thank the National Composites Centre, and the reviewers of the guide – Dr Annabel Fitzgerald – NCC, Robin Bilney – Testia, Dr Lawrence Cook – bigHead Bonding and Fasteners, Chris Minton – Minton, Treharne & Davies and finally Prof James Broughton – Oxford Brookes University.
