An ideal structure should be designed without joints, since joints are potential sources of weakness and additional weight. In practice, however, the upper limit to component size is generally determined by two fundamental factors, making joints of some kind a necessity:

• Processability
• Facility in transportation, assembling, inspection and/or repair.

Custom-engineered functionally-specific properties enabling greatly enhanced design versatility are drawing designers to FRP composites for a variety of applications. However, these will only become materials-of-preference if better ways can be found for producing more efficient joints. Methods of mechanical fastening and adhesive or thermal bonding (welding) have been developed but are often extensions of methods used for joining conventional metallic or polymeric structures.  To enable effective joint design, this must be integrated at the material and structure synthesis stage.

Further information
NCN report – Adhesive bonding of Composites