SUMMARY

The use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has greatly increased over the last several decades, particularly in the aerospace and automotive industries. CFRP is used structurally due to its light weight, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties. However, there are large differences between CFRP and conventional metals. One major issue with using CFRP is creating a reliable bond. Using conventional fasteners weakens the CFRP. One way of measuring the bond reliability could by using non-destructive inspection (NDI). There is currently no method for finding a “kissing bond”, a bond that has physical contact with the adherend, but very little interfacial strength. It is also difficult to even reliable create weak bonds. In order for NDI to be studied effectively, it must be tested on bonded joints which have been fabricated in a controlled manner. This thesis presents a method of controlled fabrication which can produce reliably weak kissing bonds, specifically with the use of NDI research in mind.