Identification of interfacial properties of FRP plated beams using debonding dynamics

Abstract

This paper faces the challenge of identifying the interfacial cohesive properties used for the debonding analysis of beams strengthened with composite materials. Motivated by the unstable and dynamic nature of the debonding mechanism, the procedure developed in this work uses experimental measurements of the dynamic aspects of the process. This approach is based on the hypothesis that the dynamic aspects carry information regarding the structural system at hand. To face this challenge, a parameter identification procedure that aims at the assessment of the work of separation and the characteristic length scale of the interface is developed. The procedure uses dynamic experimental results taken form the literature, a high order analytical approach for the modeling of the layered structure, and its finite element counterpart. The capabilities of the approach are explored through the examination of two cases: one used for the parameter identification and the other used for testing the analysis with the determined parameters. Finally, various combinations of weights that shift the focus from static observations to dynamic ones are examined. The findings imply that the kinematics of the debonding process reflect on the tacit information on the structural system and contribute to the effort of its assessment.