SELF-LOCKING JOINTS FOR PANEL STRUCTURES AND METHODS OF FABRICATING THE SAME

摘要

There is provided in an embodiment a method of fabricating a self-locking joint in a panel structure 44. The method provides a panel structure having at least two face sheets 46a, 46b and a core portion 48 sandwiched therebetween. The method further fabricates in a first portion of the panel structure at least one mortise opening 52 having self-locking end portions 54a, 54b. The method further fabricates on a second portion of the panel structure at least one tenon extension 58 having flexible self-locking members 64a, 64b. The method further interlocks the flexible self-locking members of the at least one tenon extension with the self-locking end portions of the at least one mortise opening to form a self-locking joint in the panel structure.