Determination of the mixed-mode fracture energy of elastomeric structural adhesives: evaluation of debonding buckling in fibre-metal hybrid laminates

Abstract

Fibre–metal hybrid laminates combine layers of metal with laminates made of composites – polymeric matrix reinforced with glass-fibre woven fabric. Interface behaviour plays a fundamental role in the overall properties of the hybrid material, especially in the failure mode by debonding buckling of the outermost metal layer. A proper measurement of adhesive fracture energy is required so as to avoid this early failure mechanism during bending. Tapered double cantilever beam test and dissimilar mixed-mode bending test have been used in obtaining mode I and II contributions to the adhesive fracture energy. Data reduction for elastomeric adhesives has been modified in order to account for the variation in compliance during the test due to nonlinear behaviour of the material.