DEVELOPMENT OF A FAILURE PREDICTION METHODOLOGY FOR ADHESIVE-BONDED COMPOSITES

To utilize adhesive-bonded composites effectively and reliably, an improved failure prediction methodology is needed. The procedures of a failure prediction methodology are proposed where the structural integrity of the adhesive bonds is addressed with efficient analysis techniques and with inexpensive coupon tests. Improved prediction is shown to depend on capturing the nonlinear behavior of the adhesive material in the global/local finite element analysis, and correctly representing the failure modes in the mixed-mode-bending coupons.