| 摘要 |
Metallic connectors or fasteners are often required in, or when making connections to, components or structures made of fibre reinforced composite materials. However, the location of these fasteners is often the site of structural failures due to corrosion or stress concentrations or other localised failures. This invention relates to an improved fastener or connector that provides improved integration with composite materials, and which can be used to minimise the possibility of corrosion damage while at the same time providing improved mechanical joints with reduced likelihood of stress concentrations leading to breakdown of the composite material surrounding the connector. The connector has a body section which has a graduated stiffness, the stiffness of the body section being greatest at a connection between the body section and a mechanical fastening section of connector, and the stiffness being least at the extremities of the body section. And the connector is made by electron beam melting allowing for cost effective use of titanium or titanium alloys to make the connectors, and providing for an improved strength to weight ratio and improved corrosion resistance. |
