The U.S. Army has a need for a lightweight, strong, mobile bridge. One problem that limits the performance is the design of adhesive joints. This project is to develop several optimum joint designs so that the loads on joints of either tubular and flat components are in shear, and the stress concentrations are reduced. The proposed program is to use the research we have accomplished in expert systems for optimum composite joint design, and an fea program, to develop innovative joint designs that fulfill the army's needs. The results will be an understanding of the details of the present designs, candidate joint designs, and a model of the flat structure on NISA II as a basis for further designs. A phase ii effort would complete building analytical tools, and conduct additional design studies. A prototype could be fabricated and structurally tested.
