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Investigation of Composite Bond Thickness Using Optical Fibers
Abstract
The use of polymer matrix composite materials in primary load bearing applications has increased in the aerospace industry in recent years. Unlike structural metals, composites are generally joined by adhesives, which result in weight savings, reduction in part count and a more homogenous distribution of stresses in the bond. However, due to the lack of testing techniques, it is difficult to monitor the quality of bonds during service. It is important to understand the behavior of composite adhesive bonds, particularly for certification purposes. In this study, the performance of thin and thick bonded composite structures is investigated by obtaining the strain distribution from the adhesive joint using embedded optical fibers. Double lap shear specimens were fabricated in accordance with ASTM D 3528-96. Two plies of Solvay FM 209-1 film adhesive were used for thin bonds and six plies were used for thick bonds. Unmodified optical fibers were embedded at the midplane of the adhesive plies to obtain the strain distributions. Failure loads were recorded and strain readings from the adhesive layer were compared to a finite element solution.
DOI
10.12783/asc34/31416
10.12783/asc34/31416
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