Description of the Boundary Layer Behavior of an Aluminum\u2013Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Hybrid Compound Using a Cohesive Zone Model

Abstract

Compounds of light metals and fiber composites have a large potential in the field of lightweight construction. In order to fully exploit the properties of both materials, joining technology is a major challenge. One of the reasons for this is the electrochemical contact corrosion in these materials. By using a high-temperature resistant thermoplastic (PEEK) as a separating layer between the joining partners, it is possible to produce a material composite using the aluminum die casting process, which exhibits both electrochemical decoupling and high composite strength. The description of the failure behavior of this composite plays an important role in the application of this type of joint to structural components. One of the most widely used methods to describe the failure behavior of a composite using the finite element method is the cohesive zone model. With this model, the initiation of a crack, its evolution and finally the failure of the component can be described by means of a bilinear law. In this paper, a methodology to determine the necessary parameters for fracture mode I using a modified wedge test for the cohesive zone model is described.