Introduction

It has already been observed that structural adhesive bonding, either alone or in combination with other methods of fastening, represents a key enabling technology for the exploitation of new as well as existing materials, and for the development of novel design concepts and structural configurations. This potential has been helped by developments in adhesive materials and simplified surface treatment processes, together with an improved understanding of bonded joint behaviour and design concepts.

Adhesives can offer real technical and economic benefits, providing greater freedom and flexibility for designers. The benefits available may stem particularly from repair and strengthening work, as well as from opportunities with lightweight structures or those in which increased fatigue resistance is desirable. Largely to circumvent some of the potential on-site fabrication difficulties, a number of future development possibilities lie with the off-site prefabrication of bonded assemblies. A number of examples exist currently in building construction, such as sandwich panels, curtain walling and cladding assemblies, structural glazing, stressed skin flooring and framing, and ‘macro’ composite and compound structural elements. It is likely that greater use will be made of high strength alloys and polymer composite materials in the future.

The potential opportunities for making bonded connections in civil engineering structures outlined in this chapter are by no means exhaustive. They represent examples which vary substantially in developmental progress from possibilities to well researched concepts.