• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.335-346
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• 2023

In this study, The Von Mises stresses in composite plate loaded in tension and repaired by a boron/epoxy scarf patch were analyzed using the finite element method. The performance of the repairs depends on several parameters: the dimensions and the intrinsic properties of the patch and the adhesive which are dependent on each other. Therefore, the method of experiment designs is used to determine the interaction effect of different parameters (patch folds), their optimum and the most influential parameter. The optimum of stacking sequences allows reducing stresses significantly, and thus permits designers to improve the quality of repairs.

• International Journal of Ocean System Engineering
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2011

This study examined the relationship between the scarf angle and stress distribution, and estimated the strength recovery via a finite element analysis. The following conclusions were drawn from this study. Resin will fracture due to a tensile load with a high scarf angle, which is similar to the patch repair method. An applied stress can be loaded to a repaired laminate if the scarf angle is $5^{\circ}$. The Von-Mises stress increases with decreasing scarf angle, with the exception of a scarf angle of $30^{\circ}$, where the scarf angle can indicate the rates of shear and normal stresses. Strength recovery can be better if the scarf angle is decreased to a lower angle. However, scarf machining requires more time, a high skill level and considerable expense. Therefore, a scarf angle of $5^{\circ}$ is the most effective for a repair. These results may provide a guide for engineers wishing to formulate a standard for repair. The scarf angle needs to be carefully managed for a more efficient composite repair.

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.117-124
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• 2016

The failure strength of composite single-lap joint repaired using scarf patch was investigated by test and finite element method. A total of 45 specimens were tested changing scarf ratio, stacking pattern, and defect size to study the failure strength and mode. Except for one case, all repaired specimens showed the equal or higher strength than the sound specimens and the effect of considered repair parameters was not remarkable. It was found through the failure mode inspection that the surface treatment for bonding was not enough in the case which failed at the lower load than the sound specimen. Three-dimensional finite element analysis was conducted to verify the test results. It was confirmed that the considered repair parameters do not significantly affect the stress distribution of the specimens. It was also observed that the applied tensile load is relieved passing through the overlapped region thickness of which is almost double. From this study, it is concluded that if the bonding procedure for adherends and patch including surface treatment for fabric layer is thoroughly followed, the strength of repaired single-lap joint can be restored up to the strength of sound one.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2019

The reinforcement effect of micro-bolt for a bonded scarf joint was investigated. Three scarf ratios of 1/10, 1/20, and 1/30 were considered to examine the effect of scarf patch configuration on joint strength. To maintain the same density of micro-bolt, 16, 32, and 48 bolts were installed in the scarf joint specimens with scarf ratios of 1/10, 1/20, and 1/30, respectively. Tests were also carried out on the joints that are bonded with only adhesive and that are fastened with only micro-bolts to obtain reference values. The average failure loads of the adhesive joints with scarf ratios of 1/10, 1/20, and 1/30 were 29.7, 39.6, and 44.8 kN, respectively. In case of micro-bolt reinforcement, the failure loads at the same scarf ratios were 28.4, 37.2, and 40.1 kN, respectively, which corresponds to 96, 94, and 90% of the pure adhesive joint failure loads. In the case of using only micro-bolts, the failure loads were only 13-25% of the average failure loads of pure adhesive joints. Fatigue test was also conducted for the joints with scarf ratio of 1/10. The results show that the fatigue strength of hybrid joints using both adhesive and microbolts together slightly increased compared to the fatigue strength of adhesive joint, but the rate of increase was small to 2-3%. Through this study, it was confirmed that the reinforcement effect of micro-bolt is negligible in the scarf joints where shear stress is dominating the failure, unlike in the structure where peel stress is dominant.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

In the case of a conventional composite patch repair using a heat blanket, the adhesive is pressurized using only a vacuum bag. In this study, however, a pressurization system has been developed to apply additional air pressure on the vacuum bag. In order to verify the performance of the developed system, the composite laminates were repaired with scarf patches and then tested under tensile load to be compared with the strength of the defect-free laminate. Tensile tests were also conducted on specimens with the same configuration but bonded in an autoclave. As a result of the test, the tensile strengths of the specimens repaired using the heat blanket with vacuum only without external pressure, the specimens repaired with additional pressure by the developed system, and the specimens repaired with the same external pressure in an autoclave, showed the strength recovery ratios of 74.9, 81.0, and 78.2%, respectively. The results of the tensile test after moisture saturation and the dried fatigue test also showed that the strength recovery ratios of the specimens repaired under the external pressure of 1 atm using the developed system are slightly higher than that of specimens bonded in autoclave.