COMMENTS ON MIXED-MODE FRACTURE IN ADHESIVE JOINTS

We have employed the asymmetric double cantilever beam (ADCB) specimen , which consists of a brittle adhesive bonding aluminium-alloy substra tes, to measure the toughness, G(c). We have investigated whether the ratio of the heights of the specimen arms (i.e. defined by the paramet er lambda, where lambda = h(1)/h(2)) has any significant effect on the value of G(c). We find no significant effects, and compare our result s to those previously reported where a dramatic effect was found, but could not be explained.