An experimental technique for conducting low speed impact of adhesively bonded automotive composite joints is presented. Based on the use of a modified drop tower, mode I, II, and mixed mode values for critical energy release rate were determined for a composite/epoxy system and used to create a fracture failure envelope. Because load measurements become erratic and unreliable at higher test rates, displacement-based relationships were used to quantify these energy release rates. Displacement data was collected with an imaging system that utilized edge detection to determine displacement profiles, end displacements, and opening displacements where applicable. Because of the resolution of the image-based approach used, determining crack length experimentally was extremely difficult. As a result, numerical methods were developed to objectively determine the crack length based on the available experimental data in mode I, II, and mixed mode I/II configurations. This numerical method uses a nonlinear fit to determine mode I crack lengths and a theoretical model based on cubic equations for mode II and mixed-mode I/II, where the coefficients of the equations are determined by using both boundary and transition conditions that are a result of the test setup. A double cantilever beam (DCB) geometry was chosen to collect mode I data, an end-loaded split (ELS) geometry was used for mode II, and a single leg bend (SLB) geometry was used for mixed-mode I/II. These geometries were used to determine the fracture characteristics of adhesively bonded automotive composites to create fracture failure envelopes as well as provide mode I, II, and mixed-mode I/II data to be used in finite element models. The chosen adhesive exhibited unstable, stick-slip crack growth, which resulted in very few data points being collected from each static DCB specimen as well as drastic drops in energy release rate between initiation and arrest points. Unstable growth also created issues in dynamic testing, as data points surrounding these "stick-slip" events were lost due to the insufficient sampling rate of the available imaging system. Issues also arose with differences between thick and thin composite adherend specimens. These differences could result from additional curing in thick adherend composite specimens due to the adherends retaining heat. DSC testing was conducted on uncured adhesive using a 2, 5, and 10 minute hold at the cure temperature, and significant additional curing was observed between the two and five minute cures. Due to the difference in relative stiffness between the 12 and 36 ply composite, the local loading rate at the crack tip was lower in the 12 ply adherends, possibly allowing for a larger plastic zone and thus a higher energy release rate. As a result, tests were conducted on 36 ply composite specimens at rates of 1 mm/min and 0.1 mm/min to determine if there were loading rate effects. This testing showed that higher initiation energy relase rates were found at the lower test rate, thus reinforcing the local loading rate theory. Due to issues with plastic deformation in aluminum adherends, mode II and mixed-mode I/II data were collected using only composite adherends. Only one data point was collected per specimen as the crack propagated directly into the composite after initiating from the precrack, thus multiple tests were conducted to collect sufficient data for constructing a failure envelope. Once mode I, II and mixed-mode I/II fracture data was collected, a fracture failure envelope was created. This failure envelope, combined with a predetermined factor of safety, could provide some of the necessary tools for design with this adhesive/composite system. / Master of Science

The presented thesis is devoted to the experimental and numerical analysis of concrete fracture under the mixed-mode I/II load. This phenomenon was analysed on various concrete grades and types which are used in the fabrication of precast concrete structural elements. Subsequently, the Brazilian disc test with central specimen was used in experimental and numerical parts. The numerical part employs both linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) approach and non-linear material model to assess the concrete fracture and failure under the mixed mode I/II load. The LEFM part is dedicated to evaluation the geometry functions and higher order terms of the Williams’ expansion, while the non-linear analysis is dedicated to crack initiation and propagation throughout the specimen using the concrete damage plasticity model. The experimental part is dedicated to the analysis of the mixed mode-mode I/II fracture resistance by the generalised tangential stress (GMTS) criterion with focus set on the governing role of the critical distance rC. Furthermore, the experimental part validates the applicability of the Williams’ expansion on the concrete. For this, experimentally measured displacements by digital image correlation technique were used to calculate the Williams’s expansion terms. Lastly, the thesis deals with the influence of the aggressive environment on the material’s fracture toughness and on the fracture resistance under the mixed mode I/II has been studied.

L’utilisation des goujons collés dans les structures bois répond au souci de conservation du bâti et de discrétion de l’intervention. A ce jour, plusieurs procédés de caractérisation et de dimensionnement sont disponibles, sans pour autant donner un socle commun à l’évaluation de la résistance des assemblages collés. L’utilisation des goujons collés suscite des interrogations concernant leur tenue au feu. Bien que le matériau bois entourant les tiges de renforcement soit isolant, il est nécessaire de fournir de plus amples estimations concernant la tenue mécanique des polymères pour différentes températures que l’on pourrait trouver au sein d’une liaison au cours d’un incendie. La présente étude permet de coupler méthodes expérimentales et simulations numériques, afin d’appréhender les mécanismes gouvernant la rupture de ces assemblages. La caractérisation expérimentale permet d’estimer les propriétés mécaniques locales des assemblages suivant divers paramètres (les longueurs de scellement, l’orientation du fil du bois, l’essence de bois, ou encore la température d’exposition), ainsi que les propriétés intrinsèques aux matériaux constitutifs. Cette base de données expérimentale est indispensable pour l’ajustement du modèle aux éléments finis en élasticité linéaire. L’approche numérique met en évidence une présence importante de contraintes normales en tête de collage, avant l’apparition de contraintes de cisaillement. Les outils de la Mécanique Linéaire Élastique de la Rupture équivalente permettent d’établir des courbes de résistance liées à chaque mode de ruine (mode I et mode II). Enfin, afin de décrire précisément le processus complet de rupture de ces assemblages, un critère de rupture en mode mixte (mode I et mode II) est utilisé. Une formulation analytique permettant d’estimer la charge au pic est proposée et permettra la réalisation d’abaques de dimensionnement des assemblages par goujons collés, utilisables en bureau d’études. / Glued-in-rods lead to overcome the use of traditional bolted connections, preserve a large part of original timber and offer aesthetic benefits (since the repair is hidden in the cross sections of the members). Despite previous research programs in many countries, some design rules, predicting the axial strength of such connections, are available, but a common criterion is still lacking. However, the durability of this process according to fluctuating temperature is not well known. During fire exposure, connections are not directly in contact with flames, since they are isolated by surrounding wood. The current study combines experiments with finite element computations, in order to lead a better to a better knowledge about their mechanical and fracture behaviors. An important experimental campaign is carried out on such connections and provides the influence of various parameters, such as the anchorage length, the rod-to-grain angle, the specie of wood or the temperature exposure, on their mechanical behaviors. Moreover, the inherent mechanical properties of the rod and the adhesives used are also studied. The finite element modeling reproduces the experimental configuration, and reveals significant tensile stresses in comparison with shear stresses. Within the framework of equivalent linear elastic fracture mechanics, R-curves in mode I and mode II can be estimated for each specimen. Finally, a fracture criterion in mixed mode is used to describe the complete fracture process of glued-in rods. An analytical formulation is then proposed and allows the evaluation of peak load of each specimen. This approach leads to realize design tables, usable by design offices.

An experimental evaluation of the mixed-mode fracture behavior of bonded composite joints is presented. Commonly used experimental techniques for characterizing the mode I, mixed-mode I/II, mode II, and mode III fracture behavior have been employed for the purpose of developing a fracture envelope to be utilized in the automotive design process. These techniques make use of such test geometries as the double cantilever beam (DCB), asymmetric double cantilever beam (ADCB), single-leg bend (SLB), end-loaded split (ELS), and split cantilever beam (SCB) specimens. Symmetric versions of the DCB, SLB, and ELS specimens produced mode mixities of 0°, 41°, and 90° respectively, while the testing of ADCB specimens allowed for mode mixities of 18°, 31°. Pronounced stick-slip behavior was observed for all specimen test geometries under both quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. Due to the nature of the adhesive studied, a limited number of data points were obtained under mode I loading conditions. A significant increase in the number of measurable crack initiation events was observed for mixed-mode I/II loading conditions, where stick slip behavior was less pronounced. Additionally, a comparison of the measured fracture energies obtained under mixed-mode I/II loading conditions reveals that the addition of a small mode II component results in a decrease in the mode I fracture energy by roughly 50%, as the crack was driven to the interface between the adhesive layer and composite adherends. Furthermore, the propensity of debonds to propagate into the woven composite laminate adherends under mode II loading conditions limited the number of crack initiation points that could be obtained to one or two usable data points per specimen. A limited number of experimental tests using the SCB specimen for mode III fracture characterization, combined with a numerical analysis via finite element analysis, revealed a significant mode II contribution toward the specimen edges. Similarly, FE analyses on full bond width and half bond width SCB specimens was conducted, and results indicate that by inducing a bond width reduction of 50%, the mode II contribution is greatly decreased across the entire width of the specified crack front. To provide a means for comparison to results obtained using the standard DCB specimen, an alternative driven wedge test specimen geometry was analyzed, as this geometry provided a significant increase in the number of measurable data points under mode I loading conditions. A three-dimensional finite element analysis was conducted to establish ratios of simple beam theory results to those obtained via FEA, GSBT/GFEA, were of particular interest, as these ratios were used to establish correction factors corresponding to specific crack lengths to be used in correcting results obtained from an experimental study utilizing a driven wedge technique. Corrected results show good agreement with results obtained from traditional mode I double cantilever beam tests. Finally, bulk adhesive experiments were conducted on compact tension specimens to establish a correlation between adhesively bonded composite joint and bulk adhesive fracture behavior under mode I loading conditions. Measured fracture energy values were shown to gradually drop across a range of applied loading rates, similar to the rate-dependent behavior observed with both the DCB and driven wedge specimens. Application of the time-temperature superposition principle was explored to determine whether or not such techniques were suitable for predicting the fracture behavior of the adhesive studied herein. Good correlation was established between the fracture energy values measured and the value of tan d obtained from dynamic mechanical analysis tests conducted at corresponding reduced test rates. / Master of Science