Fracture failure prediction for composite adhesively bonded double lap joints by an experiment-based approach

This paper investigates the fracture failure behavior of composite double lap joints (DLJs) under uniaxial tensile load. A physical model is proposed where both interface energy and geometric nonlinearity are taken into account. The interface parameters are determined by an experiment-based approach. In the framework of finite fracture mechanics (FFM), the energy-stress coupled criterion is employed to predict the failure load of DLJs. A high-speed camera is utilized to capture the actual failure mode of DLJs. The numerical predictions from the present approach are validated against experimental results. The effects of the interface energy, the geometric nonlinearity and the asymmetry of the DLJ on the strain energy release rate (SERR) curves of DLJs are discussed in detail through a series of numerical investigations.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the fracture failure behavior of composite double lap joints under uniaxial tensile load. A physical model taking into account both interface energy and geometric nonlinearity is proposed, and the interface parameters are determined through experiment-based approach. The failure load of the double lap joints is predicted using the energy-stress coupled criterion in the framework of finite fracture mechanics. The actual failure mode of the joints is captured using a high-speed camera, and the numerical predictions are validated against experimental results. The effects of interface energy, geometric nonlinearity, and joint asymmetry on the strain energy release rate curves are discussed.