Ed. Reedy, Connection between interface corner and interfacial fracture analyses of an adhesively-bonded butt joint, INT J SOL S, 37(17), 2000, pp. 2429-2442
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.