Summary

Recently, considerable research effort has been devoted to the fabrication of structures by adhesive bonding due to its definite advantages compared with other conventional techniques such as casting and welding. With bonding the need for stress relieving is avoided, the lead time is reduced and the design can be carried out according to optimum principles with the ability to bond different materials: for example, aluminium to steel, plastics to metals. These advantages have led to continuous efforts in studying the mechanism of bonding, in improving the properties of structural of adhesive bonding in technically adhesives and in widening the use demanding industrial applications. The aim of this book is to present recent developments in the use of adhesive bonding in structural fabrication throughout the world, as illustrations to successful appli­ cation of this novel technique of fabrication. For industrial applications to be successful, the engineer should be aware ofthe various types of adhesives available and of their properties, and also of the new design philosophy to be adopted in such bonded structures, and a portion of the book is aimed at highlighting the properties of the adhesives and their suitability and at assisting the engineer in his choice of the proper adhesive for the job at hand. Also emphasised in this book are the various means of destructive and non-destructive testing of bonded joints, with special mention of structures fabricated by adhesive bonding.