Evaluation Method for Fatigue Strength of FRP/Metal Adhesive Joints Considering Mean Stress

Abstract

The fatigue strength of two types of FRP/metal adhesive joints at low temperature, a double lap joint and an embedded joint, was evaluated analytically and experimentally. First, the stress singularity parameters of the delamination edges under mechanical and thermal loadings were analyzed by FEM for various delamination lengths. The delamination propagation rate of the double lap joint under mechanical cyclic loadings at room temperature was measured. Using the relationship between the measured propagation rates and the analyzed ranges of stress singularity intensity, we estimated the fatigue strength of the embedded joint, which coincided well with the measured one. Second, we developed an evaluation method that separates the effects of temperature on fatigue strength into two effects: thermal residual stress and low temperature. Third, the fatigue strengths of the double lap joints were measured for various mean stresses. Fatigue limit of adhesive joints was experimentally measured and compared with analytical intensity of stress singularity. A method for evaluating the fatigue strength of adhesive joints by taking mean stress into account was developed.