Abstract
Abstract This paper aimed to investigate the stitching effect on the bond strength of single lap shear joints in carbon/epoxy composite laminates using experimental and simulation methods. Stitched and unstitched single lap shear joints were bonded using the EC-3448 epoxy adhesive and tested under different working environments, including room temperature/dry (RTD), elevated temperature/wet (ETW) and cold temperature/dry (CTD). The results showed that stitching improved the bond strength of the stitched single lap joints, with approximately 60% higher strength for stitched compared to unstitched lap joints under RTD and CTD environments and 10% higher strength under an ETW environment. The increase was smaller under ETW conditions because the adhesive recured under elevated temperature. Embedded interactions connected the lapping plates and the stitch line, and the maximum stress failure criterion was adopted for the stitch line. As the predicted failure modes are consistent with the experimental results, the progressive damage mode can be applied to simulate stitched composite structures.
Highlights
Due to their excellent stiffness/weight ratio, integral molding, easy of design, and other features, composite structures are widely employed in the aerospace, civil and mechanical industries
This paper aimed to investigate the stitching effect on the bond strength of single lap shear joints in carbon/epoxy composite laminates using experimental and simulation methods
The results showed that stitching improved the bond strength of the stitched single lap joints, with approximately 60% higher strength for stitched compared to unstitched lap joints under room temperature/dry (RTD) and cold temperature/dry (CTD) environments and 10% higher strength under an elevated temperature/wet (ETW) environment
Summary
Due to their excellent stiffness/weight ratio, integral molding, easy of design, and other features, composite structures are widely employed in the aerospace, civil and mechanical industries. The Boeing 787 and Airbus A350XWB contain more than 50% by weight advanced composite components. Integral molding is the key feature differentiating composite materials from traditional metal materials. This paper describes an investigation of the effect of stitching on the bond strength of single lap shear joints. Stitched and unstitched single lap joints were tested under different environments, and a detailed finite element model was established for numerical simulation with embedded interactions. The simulation results were compared with the experimental results to explain the effect of stitching on single lap joints
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