Appurtance Attachments for Composite Systems

This exploratory development program is a study of existing means of attaching hardware to composite materials in general. Special attention for mounting racks, brackets, modular armor and other types of equipment and hardware on combat and tactical vehicle will be provided. These vehicles use all types and shapes of composite structure including: solid laminates, thin wall composites, pultrusion, molded parts, sandwich laminates and multi-layer structures. The research and study of existing attachment devices and attaching methods will result in better definition of available attachment methods and hardware for attaching devices to composite structures, definition of new and improved methods and hardware needed, and information for attachment devices handbooks for thin wall and sandwich structures. The research required to complete this proposal has resulted in discovering new materials, hardware and new attaching methods. These new attachment methods are continuing to be investigated. This study will include composite and metal inserts, adhesive systems, threaded inserts, thru-hole inserts, quick release devices, hot and cold bonded inserts and studs. The most promising concepts are shown in Figures 6, 7, 8.