Investigating on the influence of multi‐walled carbon nanotube and graphene nanoplatelet additives on residual strength of bonded joints subjected to partial fatigue loading

Abstract

AbstractAdhesively bonded joints in engineering structures, especially automotive body structures, inevitably experience long or limited fatigue loading conditions. In this article, the shear strength of steel bonded lap joints reinforced by multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) were evaluated after being subjected to limited fatigue loading cycles. For this purpose, three specimen groups of neat, MWCNT, and GNP‐reinforced joints (with 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wt% contents) were prepared. After performing the static lap shear tests, fatigue testing of each specimen group was conducted under a maximum fatigue load of 50% of its average static failure load until complete separation of the substrates. Accordingly, limited fatigue loadings were applied to each specimen group for 30%, 50%, and 70% of its total fatigue life, and subsequently, a second‐round static testing was performed to evaluate the residual strength of the joints. The results revealed that the maximum static shear strength improvements of MWCNT and GNP‐reinforced joints were associated with incorporating 1.0 and 0.5 wt% particle contents. Moreover, for 0.2 and 0.5 wt% contents, the static strength of the joints reinforced by GNPs was 3.4% and 3.9% greater than that of MWCNTs reinforced joints. On the contrary, for 1.0 and 2.0 wt% filler contents, specimens including MWCNTs had 9.1% and 18.6% higher strength than GNP‐reinforced ones. The highest fatigue life enhancements of 34.1% and 31% were obtained by adding 1.0 and 0.5 wt.% of MWCNT and GNP particles to the adhesive, respectively. It was concluded that, for 0.2 and 0.5 wt% contents, nanoparticle type did not have a noticeable effect on the residual strength of the joints after being subjected to fatigue loading for 30% of its total life. The specimens subjected to 50% and 70% of their total fatigue life indicated a minimum loss in the shear strength for the joints reinforced by dispersing 1.0 wt% of MWCNTs.