EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/L68131/01
Title: THE NATURE AND ULTRASONIC NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF 'KISSING' BONDS IN REAL STRUCTURES
Principal Investigator: Drinkwater, Professor B
Other Investigators:
Guild, Professor FJ
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
BAE Systems
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Organisation: University of Bristol
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 1997 Ends: 30 September 2000 Value (£): 52,253
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
A kissing bond (alternatively called a zero-volume disbond) is a type of disbond in an adhesive joint in which the disbonded surfaces are in some way coupled. As with any disbond they can reduce failure stress, fatigue life, structural stiffness as well as aiding water ingress. Ultrasonics offer a means of detecting such disbonds nondestructively. Previous work as been limited to artificially introduced defects and the relationship between these defects and kissing bonds in real structures is not known. It is the aim of this project to investigate the nature of kissing bonds in real structures subject to real loadings and environmental conditions. This information will enable the most appropriate model of the interaction of ultrasound with a kissing bond to be selected. Possible mechanisms for the creation of kissing bonds in real structure will be studied. Kissing bonds will then be created in the laboratory. Ultrasonic reflection and transmission coefficient measurements (both longitudinal and shear waves) will be used to interrogate the kissing bonds and their detectability will be assessed. These experimental results will be used to verify the selected model.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.bris.ac.uk