Adhesively bonded joint shear test characterization using a modified arcan fixture

Abstract

Adhesively bonded joints are frequently used for many composite engineering applications in eg. the aerospace, energy, civil, automotive [1] and medical sectors. This is because bonded joints display several advantages relative to other joints including improved stiffness and strength, reduced mass, ability to form continuous surfaces and ability to join dissimilar materials. However, depending on the joint geometry, bonded joints may not be as strong as joints made using other techniques, especially if a butt joint is required. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine magnets, butt joints are used between glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) rings and epoxy infused coils of superconducting wire. Because such joints are subjected to large electromagnetic biaxial forces induced by the magnetic fields they produce, it is important to understand the strength of such joints. Thus, a mechanical test method needs to be devised that can produce representative biaxial and uniaxial loads, and able to produce accurate failure envelopes that can be related to the complex stress states experienced by such adhesive joints