Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
Jaguar XK
Jaguar’s lightweight technology is unique in the automobile industry since the XK comes as a complete aluminum monocoque structure as distinct from an aluminum space frame with separate panels. It’s the type of body construction more often seen in the aerospace industry (albeit now with carbon fiber, as in Boeing’s new 787).
The joints in the new XK body shell are formed using Jaguar’s unique combination of riveting and bonding, and using self-piercing rivets applied by hydraulic pressure against a fixed tool produces most joints.
Where access to only one side of the joint is possible, as in some of the new extended box sections, a new riveting process has been developed; and where particularly high stiffness is required in a joint, a combination of riveting and bonding is used – with the adhesive bond in effect creating a continuous joint that is stronger than a similar, riveted-only joint.
