Investigation of the effect of bonded composite patch on the mixed-mode fracture strength and stress intensity factors for an edge crack in aluminum alloy 2024-T3 plates

Abstract

In this research, the fracture behavior of an edge crack in aluminum alloy 2024-T3 plate repaired with bonded composite patch has been investigated under mixed-mode loading condition, numerically and experimentally. For the experimental part, two batches of simple edge crack and repaired specimen have been tested by a tensile test machine at different loading levels by using a modified Arcan fixture. According to the experimental results, applying the repair patch improved the fracture strength even as much as 44%. Also, increasing the patch thickness enhances the repair efficiency; nevertheless, increasing the adhesive thickness decreases the strength as much as 3%. Finite element simulations were performed to model the specimens and establish the stress intensity geometry/loading factors. The results indicate that a significant reduction in the geometry/loading factors at the crack tip can be occurred in the presence of the patch.

Keywords

Fracture mechanics mixed-mode loading bonded composite repair stress intensity factor finite element

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