Effect of surface pattern on strength of structural lightweight bonded joints for marine applications

Abstract The main objective of this investigation was to test the effects of different surface patterns produced by mechanical engraving on composite/aluminium bonded joints, following a previous experimental campaign on aluminium AA5083 joints. In both cases, the results showed that the pattern affected the mechanical properties, i.e. the joint with the best pattern had a higher mechanical strength than the joint where the surface was not treated. The novelty of the work lay both in the materials used to make the joints, which are used in marine applications, and in the manufacturing process, which used a numerically controlled milling machine with a special tool.