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Old 17th Jun 2010, 04:14
  #353 (permalink)  
blakmax
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
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I wish I had your confidence Shell. I have read the report and I can see issues with it. For one, to produce the "hidden" failure mode (which is nothing more than core shear failure) the specimens were severely distorted and retained that distorted shape on unloading after failure (See the figure on slide 33). Such distortion would be obvious to anyone using a Mark 1 eyeball and would have been easily observed during the repair procedure.

Secondly, the strength loss of 30% is consitent with the results of our tests involving micro-voiding of the adhesive as discussed in one of my previous postings.

Unless the manufacturer takes action to minimise exposure of his uncured adhesive products to humid environments, then nothing will change. The strength of the structure and hence the level of safety will be determined by the humidity on the day the components were manufactured.
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