Influence of adhesive fillets on fatigue behaviour of single‐strap composite repairs

Abstract

AbstractThe objective of this work is to analyse the influence of adhesive fillets on the fatigue/fracture behaviour of single‐strap adhesive repairs of carbon‐epoxy composites. A cohesive zone model (CZM) appropriate for high‐cycle fatigue analysis was employed. A preliminary model validation was performed using results ensuing from experimental testing of single‐strap adhesive repairs without fillets. Subsequently, the numerical model was used to investigate the effect of outer, inner and both (outer and inner) fillets on the quasi‐static strengths and on the fatigue lives of these repairs. It was concluded that inner fillets provide the best option concerning the increase of fatigue life or a maximum fatigue load for a given planned service‐life of the repaired component.