Investigation of Adhesively Bonded Composite Structure Joints

A series of tests and simulations were constructed around representative bonded joint samples. The specimens were manufactured and tested under fracture modes I and II. The orientation of the mid-planar interfaces plies between the adherends and the adhesive were altered to determine the role of interfacial bonding on fracture mechanism. For mode I test, it was found that different orientation did not influence the energy delivered to create a unit area of fresh fracture surface. mode II tests were conducted on release film and natural crack specimens. The results of the analysis showed that the specimens with release film produced more conservative and lower values of GIIC with respect to natural crack specimen. The curves obtained from the finite element modelling simulation of single lap joint gave good agreement with experimental tests.