Design of hybrid steel-composite interference fitted and adhesively bonded connections

The work deals with the definition of the axial push-out force in hybrid connections realized by means of a carbon-epoxy composite bush which is press fitted into a steel housing and, eventually, supplemented with anaerobic adhesive, in order to obtain an innovative (hybrid) journal bearing. Lamè's solution has been extended to orthotropic material (composite bush) in order to evaluate analytically the coupling pressure due to interference assembly, while experimental campaigns have provided the values of coefficient of friction and of the adhesive shear strength (steel-composite). The mere application of the anaerobic adhesive before the assembly operation does not provide any sensible increase in push out force especially if compared with metal–metal interference connections. In order to take advantage of the adhesive strength, specific hoop channels for the adhesive hosting have been realised on the external surface of the composite bush.