Strength scaling of adhesive joints in polymer–matrix composites

Bent F. Sørensen, Stergios Goutianos, Torben K. Jacobsen

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    The fracture of adhesive joints between two glass-fibre laminates was studied by testing double cantilever beam test specimens loaded by uneven bending moments. A large-scale fracture process zone, consisting of a crack tip and a fibre bridging zone, developed. The mixed mode fracture resistance increased with increasing crack length, eventually reaching a steady-state level (R-curve behaviour). The steady-state fracture resistance level increased with increasing amount of tangential crack opening displacement. Cohesive laws, obtained from fracture resistance data, were used for prediction the load carrying capacity of 2-m long “medium size” adhesive joint specimens subjected to four point flexure. Medium size specimens were manufactured and tested. A good agreement was found between the predicted and measured strength values of the medium-size specimens. Thus, the scaling from small specimens to medium-size specimens was successfully achieved.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalInternational Journal of Solids and Structures
    Volume46
    Issue number3-4
    Pages (from-to)741-761
    ISSN0020-7683
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

    Keywords

    • Materials research
    • Light strong materials for wind turbines and for transportation

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