Connection between interface corner and interfacial fracture analyses of an adhesively-bonded butt joint

Interfacial crack growth in a tensile-loaded, adhesively-bonded butt joint with rigid adherends is analyzed. First, the asymptotic, small-scale cracki ng solution for a short interfacial crack originating at a sharp interface corner is presented, Then the asymptotic, steady-state solution for a long interfacial crack is discussed. These asymptotic results are compared with full finite element solutions of a butt joint containing a 0.001 to 10 bond thickness long interfacial crack. Finally, the applicability of both inter face corner and interfacial fracture mechanics approaches to failure analys is is discussed. The small-scale cracking solution indicates that when one can apply an interface corner failure analysis, one can also apply an inter facial fracture mechanics approach with a suitably chosen inherent flaw. Al though the two methods are equivalent, it should be emphasized that the inh erent flaw and corresponding toughness may have limited physical significan ce. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.