• Composites Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.23-30
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• 2006

In the development of a cryogenic propellant tank, the proper selection of adhesives to bond composite and metal liner is important for the safety of operation. In this study, 3 types of adhesives were tested for the ability to bond CFRP composites developed for cryogenic use and aluminum alloy (Al 6061-T6) for lining the tank using double-lap joint specimens. The double-lap joint specimens were tested inside an environmental chamber at room temperature and cryogenic temperature ($-150^{\circ}C$) respectively to compare the bond strength of each adhesive and fracture characteristics. The material properties with temperature of component materials of double-lap joints were measured. In addition, ABAQUS was used for the purpose of analyzing the experimental results.

• Composites Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.15-22
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• 2006

One of the primary factors limiting the application of composite-metal adhesively bonded joints in structural design is the lack of a good evaluation tool for the interfacial strength to predict the load bearing capacity of boned joints. In this paper composite-steel adhesion strength is evaluated in terms of stress intensity factor and fracture toughness of the interface corner. The load bearing capacity of double lap joints, fabricated by co-cured bonding of composite-steel adherends has been determined using fracture mechanical analysis. Bi-material interface comer stress singularity and its order are presented. Finally stress intensities and fracture toughness of the wedge shape bi-material interface corner are determined. Double lap joint failure locus and its mixed mode crack propagation criterion on $K_1-K_{11}$ plane have been developed by tension tests with different bond lengths.

• Composites Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.7-14
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• 2008

Prediction of the load-bearing capacity of an adhesive-bonded Joint is of practical importance for engineers. This paper introduces interface fracture mechanics approach to predict the load-bearing capacity of composite metal bonded joints. The adhesion strength of composite/steel bonding is evaluated in terms of the energy release rate of an interfacial crack and the fracture toughness of the interface. Virtual track closure technique (VCCT) is used to calculate energy release rates, and hi-material end-notched flexure (ENF) specimens are devised to measure the interfacial fracture toughness. Bi-material ENF specimens gave consistent mode II fracture toughness $(G_{IIc})$ values of the composite/steel interface regardless of the thickness of specimens. The critical energy release rates of double-lap joints showed a good agreement with the measured fracture toughness. Therefore. the energy-based interfacial fracture characterization can be a practical engineering tool for predicting the load-bearing capacity of bonded joints.