Adhesive Properties Subject to Temperature Testing for Cohesive Zone Modeling

The growth of lightweight components and need for non-destructive fastening techniques leads to the use of adhesives in many industries. Modeling the behavior of adhesives in fastening joints can help in the design process to make an optimized joint, with minimal waste. However, in available material properties provided by manufactures of adhesives there is a gap in what is sufficient to accurately model and predict the behavior of real-world adhesive conditions. An adhesive joint may be loaded in mode I, mode II, mode III, or a combination of these in service. In components with outdoor application the ambient temperature outside in many regions can vary to below freezing to over 40 °C. The environmental conditions at these temperatures may influence the adhesive material properties. This body of research presents the results of adhesive properties subject to temperature testing. The needed material properties to compose an accurate model have been shown to be the mode I cohesive strength, mode I cohesive toughness, mode II cohesive strength, and mode II cohesive toughness. These properties can be measured with a test specimen designed to isolate that loading mode and condition. The specimens used are the Dog Bone Tensile Specimen (DBTS), the Double Cantilever Beam (DCB), Shear Loaded Dual Cantilever Beam (SLDCB), and Double Lap Shear (DLS). The effect of temperature will be tested by testing each specimen at −30°C, 20°C, and 45°C. Triplicates of each specimen at the respective temperature were tested. These results will be used in a cohesive zone model that will be validated with additional testing. The results from the two tested adhesives, Plexus MA832 and Pliogrip 7779/220, indicate these temperature conditions can change the cohesive strength in mode I by −60 to −40 % and mode II by −13 to 2% when at high temperatures (HT). The cohesive toughness in mode I by −40 to −20% and mode II by −40 to −2% when at high temperatures. The cohesive strength in mode I by −50 to 15% and mode II by 8% to 60% when at low temperatures (LT). The cohesive toughness in mode I by −70 to −20% and mode II by 30 to 60% when at low temperatures. As compared with those tested at room temperature (RT). The ranges here represent the response for both adhesives.