LARGE DEFLECTION EFFECTS OF CRACKED ALUMINUM PLATES REPAIRED WITH BONDED COMPOSITE PATCHES

Highly complicated 3D stresses in a metallic panel under in-plane load ing are developed if composite patches are bonded to its surfaces eith er symmetrically (double-sided) or especially unsymmetrically (single- sided). Unsymmetric repairs present a great challenge in modeling due to the presence of out-of-plane bending. The problem is further compli cated by thermal residual stresses arising from the thermal coefficien t mismatch of the patch and aluminum plates. An efficient model using Mindlin plate theory and spring elements is used to model both the hos t and repair plates and adhesive. Large deflection theory is used to s tudy the effect of different variables including the thermal residual stresses and host and repair plate thicknesses. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.