Abstract
The present study aims at obtaining fundamental design data for improved joint configurations of secondary bonded joints of sandwich constructions for FRP ships. Non.crimp knitted glass fabrics based on infusion molding methods are adopted in construction of FRP ships to substitute conventional woven rovings and chopped strand mats based on hand lay.up molding methods. Joint configurations of stepped lap, single strap and single scarf are comparatively evaluated in terms of joint efficiency. It was experimentally demonstrated that a high joint efficiency larger than90%was achieved on modified stepped lap joints by means of changing two.axial into four.axial fabric with same glass weight since tensile strength of glass reinforcements is better balanced to shear strength of resin matrix.
