Michał Budzik

Effect of Adhesive Compliance in the Assessment of Soft Adhesives with the Wedge Test

Wedge tests are usually analysed assuming that the free, unbonded members may be treated as encastré cantilever beams. However, if the adhesive layer is sufficiently flexible (e. g., due to low elastic modulus), then significant strain in the bonded region may occur and lead to modification of the behaviour outside this region. Using in conjunction a sensitive strain gauge method on asymmetric wedge tests and a mathematical analysis developed from the work of Winkler, we conclude that the standard, simple beam theory approach significantly overestimates crack length for a supple adhesive layer. The present contribution mainly considers strain effects in the intact, bonded zone, rather than fracture per se. However, it is concluded that, if in fracture tests, the incorrect values of crack length obtained from the encastré beam assumption are employed to calculate fracture energy using the simpler model, there will be some self-compensation and little error in estimates of the latter will result (at least in the cases presently studied).

Fracture in Composite/Aluminium Joints of Variable Adhesive Properties

A strain gauge technique recently developed with the wedge test, for estimating crack length and, thus, the fracture energy of structural adhesive bonding, has been employed on a system in which one adherend had two types of surface treatment. Simple polishing and polishing with subsequent sandblasting were the treatments used, with a distinct straight line, perpendicular to the sample edges, separating the two. Despite the clear-cut difference in surface treatment, smooth transitions in crack growth speed were noted. This can be explained by the existence of a curved crack front, encroaching gradually on one surface-treated zone, whilst remaining partially on the other. Crack length, a, vs. time, t, curves were exploited to obtain fracture energy vs. crack speed. The multi-valued nature of the relation can also be explained by a non-rectilinear fracture front. The method is proposed as a method for reproducible comparison of surface treatments.

Formation and Growth of the Crack in Bonded Joints Under Mode I Fracture: Substrate Deflection at Crack Vicinity

Adhesive bonding is now commonly used in aircraft, cars, boats, etc. In these applications, thin panels are often bonded. In such thin structures, heterogeneous mechanical loading along the bondline edge (or potential crack front) is likely to arise due to 3D structural effects. The crack front and its vicinity is a special region, in that it is where structural properties of the adherend material meet those of the adhesive (discontinuity). To investigate the stress distribution in this region, we have observed the deflection of a flexible adherend in an asymmetric wedge bonded joint loaded in Mode I. A sensitive laser profilometry technique was used to observe the main vertical beam displacement and curvature along the length, as well as the resulting transverse, or anticlastic effect, due to Poissons ratio. From this analysis is evaluated the heterogeneous tensile stress distribution in the adhesive in the vicinity of the crack front.

Evaluation of adhesive bond Young's modulus during crosslinking using a mechanical method and an ultrasound method

The strength and stability of adhesive bonded structures are related to polymer curing, when crosslinking occurs and leads to adhesive strength, stiffness and durability. Depending on the resin and curing agent used, cure time can vary from minutes to weeks. Methods based on dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) or calorimetric techniques (DSC, DTA) are valuable for evaluating mechanical properties of adhesives, but are devoted specifically to the polymers alone, and not in situ in adhesive bonds. In this contribution, we have monitored - during crosslinking - the Youngs modulus of a slow-curing DGEBA - PAMAM adhesive system, with two non-destructive, in situ, methods used for the characterisation of the adhesive in a bonded system. The first method is based on measurements obtained from strain gauges mounted on one bonded adherend. The second method uses an ultrasound technique based on the through-transmission. Both methods suggest the same curing kinetics.