Tensile and buckling properties of notched 6063 aluminum repaired with composite patches

Abstract

In this study, 6063 aluminum plates with ‘O’ and ‘U’ notches were patched with E-glass/epoxy composites. In this context, O and U notches were made using an aluminum computer numerically controlled machine. Then, composite patches were produced through the hand lay-up method and hot-pressing. The 36 × 40 mm patches were water-jet-cut from E-glass/epoxy plates. The notched aluminum surfaces were cleaned with a rotary felt, and then solvent-based spray was applied and the surfaces were made ready for adhesion. Bonding was done with two-component Weicon RK-7100 adhesive. Tensile and buckling tests were performed under ambient conditions with an Instron 8801 test device. Experiments were carried out in O, U–O and U–O–U configurations without patches, one-side-patched and two-side-patched, and the results were presented comparatively in graphs.