Fastening panels/parts to structures and other composites

Hey all!

I haven’t posted in forever and I really just lurk in the background. One topic that I have been really interested in lately though is fastening composite parts to either support structures or other composite parts.

I did find this thread,
http://www.compositescentral.net/showthread.php?t=3735&highlight=fastening

which wet my appetite but I think more details would be very nice. I would love any contribution for fastening but I do have several specific question in mind and I will try to stagger them out a bit.

The first thing I am wondering about is securing CF panels/parts to say a tube structure. Specifically if a tube frame chassis was constructed what would be some different ways to secure a composite body to the chassis (or support struts or whatever).

I am mainly interested in carbon if that makes any difference (which I know for something like metal contact it does). So far about all I have seen is how the Porsche 917 fiberglass body was secured to the body skeleton structure. They put the panel in place against the skeleton tubing and then wet out a strip of FG and lay it down over the tube (imagine the shape of a capital omega letter). That is nice for a body since you don’t have any hardware sticking out on the outside of the body but I’m not sure how sturdy it is.

I suppose there is also the option of epoxying in an “L” rib which could be bolted to a bracket.
What thoughts or known methods can anyone suggest?

Thanks so much!

Perhaps this is just not an interesting topic or perhaps I just didn’t make any sense, it wouldn’t be the first time.

I am posting this slide show which shows how the Porsche 917 FG panels were held to the body from the factory.

[ame=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFUfDYZWBEw&feature=relmfu”]917 Part 19 - Another Slide Show - YouTube[/ame]

My simple question, would this still be done today with carbon fiber? What alternatives would be recommended?

I’ve used epoxy and MMA glues in automotive and marine application. MMA is very strong in composite-composite and composite-metal bonds. as long as hou have a good bonding area.

In boatbuilding laminating structures in is quite common. But beware of printing.