Fatigue Test Results Research Articles

Fatigue performance testing and life prediction of welded fuel pipes

The external piping system which connects power devices, valve control devices, actuators, etc. is an essential system on the aero engine. Under the combined effects of high fluid pressure and external vibration, multiaxial fatigue failure is the main factor that seriously affects the safety of the piping system. The objective of this paper is to establish the multiaxial fatigue life model for the typical welded fuel pipe of the piping system by combining fatigue testing, simulation and theoretical analysis which is of great guiding significance for the engineering application of the piping system. Firstly, the fatigue limits of welded fuel pipes under no and 13.5 MPa internal pressure are obtained by rotational bending fatigue tests using the up-and-down method. Three additional stress levels of rotational bending fatigue tests under no internal pressure are supplemented and then the S-N curve is further obtained by the group method. Since the corresponding fracture surface of the specimens locates at the weld toe near the fixed end, peak stress method is adopted to evaluate the fatigue performance of the weld toe on the pipe specimens. In addition, by comparing the fatigue limit with no and 13.5 MPa internal pressured pipes, it is obvious that the equivalent uniaxial stress corrected by Gerber formula is not applicable for the multiaxial fatigue condition which is caused by the combined effect of fluid pressure and displacement load. The local stress concentration factor caused by the weld toe is determined and based on Findley critical plane model, the multiaxial fatigue life model is established which simultaneously takes the local stress concentration effect, mean stress effect and multiaxial stress effect into consideration. The results of rotational bending fatigue tests under 13.5 MPa internal pressure are within the triple error dispersion band and the accuracy of the proposed life model are verified.

The effect of runoff acidity on fatigue cracking of hot mix asphalt using thermodynamic concepts

This study examined the fatigue performance of hot mix asphalt (HMA) under the influence of runoffs entering the pavement with different acidity degrees. Based on the fatigue test results, changing the runoff acidity and increasing the temperature decreased the number of cycles leading to HMA fracture (fatigue life) and accelerated the damage. The results of the surface free energy (SFE) method were aligned with the fatigue test results, indicating that changing the runoff acidity increased the bitumen-water adhesion SFE, aggregate-water adhesion SFE, and bitumen-aggregate debonding SFE. These changes diminished the fatigue cracking resistance of HMA. According to the Pull-Off test results, altering the runoff acidity and increasing the temperature reduced the adhesion and cohesion strength. According to the two principal factors in fatigue cracking (fracture adhesion and cohesion), the reduced fatigue life of the samples due to variations in the runoff acidity and temperature increase was acceptable according to the SFE and Pull-Off test results. The independent samples t test revealed that changing the runoff acidity led to a significant decline in the asphalt samples' performance parameters compared to neutral conditions.

Fatigue tests of S690 as-welded and HFMI-treated details with longitudinal and transverse attachments

The complex nature of the fatigue strength of welded steel details, which is influenced by a multitude of factors, can be improved by extending the crack initiation phase of the total fatigue life. This enhancement can be achieved through the use of the High-Frequency Mechanical Impact (HFMI) method. This study discusses the fabrication and laboratory cyclic testing of as-welded and HFMI-treated transversal and longitudinal attachments made from S690QL steel. Assessment of a two-stage model (TSM) for the evaluation of their fatigue life, previously developed by the authors, is also performed. The TSM's estimated fatigue lives of the details under consideration align well with the fatigue test results. Moreover, both the TSM model results and the corresponding fatigue test results demonstrate that the HFMI method significantly prolongs their fatigue life. The fatigue resistance of HFMI-treated details compared to as-welded details increased by 1.67 and 1.91 times for longitudinal and transversal attachments, respectively.

Study on the fatigue life and toughness of recycled aggregate concrete based on basalt fiber

This paper studies the influence of basalt fibers on the mechanical properties, fatigue life, and toughness of Mechanically Recycled Aggregate Concrete (MRAC). Basalt fibers of varying volume fractions and lengths, along with quantified amounts of mineral powder and fly ash, are incorporated into MRAC to prepare Basalt Fiber Mechanically Recycled Aggregate Concrete (BFMRAC). The results of basic mechanical tests and fatigue tests showed that mineral powder and fly ash reduce cement consumption, achieve the effect of green construction, and basalt fibers improve the mechanical properties and toughness of concrete. The results of the response surface method (RSM) model indicate that the volume fraction of basalt fibers has a greater influence on the mechanical properties of BFMRAC compared to fiber length. The fatigue test results indicate that under different fiber volume fractions and lengths, the uniaxial compressive fatigue life (N) of specimens for each mix proportion is consistently improved. When the length of basalt fibers is 12 mm and the volume fraction is 0.3 %, the uniaxial compressive fatigue life of BFMRAC reaches its maximum (231638), which is twice that of MRAC. When the survival rate (P) is set to 0.5, with a basalt fibers volume content of 0.3 % and a length of 12 mm, the fatigue limit strength (Se) attains its maximum (0.8648 fc). When stress levels (S) reach 0.75 and the basalt fibers length is 12 mm, the relative CI Intensifying Coefficient achieves its maximum (1.133), resulting in optimal fatigue toughness. When the basalt fibers length is 6–12 mm, Se generally increases with the increase of fiber length, and the enhancement effect is best at 12 mm.

Dissipative and thermal aspects in cyclic loading of additive manufactured AISI 316L

This study presents a comprehensive understanding of the fatigue behavior of 316L stainless steel specimens produced using the laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) method. The investigation has been conducted through a multifaceted approach that includes surface roughness analysis, density measurements, microstructural examination, fatigue testing, strain measurements, and thermographic analysis. Thermographic data processing models, i.e. the bi-power law (TCM-modified) model and the TCM method, are applied to fatigue test results of standard samples to evaluate fatigue limit values. The fatigue limit of the samples was estimated using the Murakami Method (MM), Constant Amplitude Loading (CAL) and Step Loading (SL) tests. The proposed methodology allows exploration of the entire stress level range within a single test, which could allow evaluation of the fatigue limit of components within only one test. This study is the starting point for a rapid evaluation method for estimating the fatigue limit using thermography, offering a cost-effective, time-efficient, and non-destructive means of assessing the fatigue performance of materials produced using additive manufacturing processes.

Fatigue Life Prediction and Verification of Railway Fastener Clip Based on Critical Plane Method

Accurately predicting the fatigue life of fastener clips is crucial for improving material processing technology, enhancing the anti-fatigue design level, and guiding the maintenance and repair of track structures. Conventional methods that solely evaluate the fatigue life of fastener clips based on the uniaxial stress index under displacement loads may lead to significant errors. In this paper, the stress field of a type-III clip under displacement loading conditions was numerically simulated based on fatigue test standards, and the fatigue life of the clip was analyzed using the Fatemi–Socie (FS) multiaxial fatigue criterion based on the critical plane method. A comparison with standard fatigue test results revealed that, under non-resonance conditions, the predicted position of the fatigue critical plane of the fastener clip coincided with the fracture surface observed at the middle of the measured small arc, with a life prediction error of 7.3%. To further investigate the predictive capability of the FS multiaxial fatigue criterion for the fatigue life of the fastener clip under resonance conditions, the stress levels of the clip under non-resonance and resonance conditions were compared through on-site testing, and the effects of inertial loads caused by vertical and lateral vibration acceleration on the stress field of the clip were analyzed in numerical simulation according to the results of clip acceleration tests; the fastener clip’s resonance fracture position and fatigue life were also predicted based on the aforementioned multiaxial fatigue criterion. To verify the accuracy of the predicted results, a testing method was proposed that equates the high-frequency resonant inertial load of the fastener clip to a low-frequency additional preload under the premise of consistent stress fields. A comparison with the numerical simulation results shows that considering only vertical inertial loads would result in a discrepancy between the measured fracture location and the actual one. Considering both vertical and lateral inertial loads, the fracture location (at the heel of the small arc) under resonance conditions could be accurately determined, with a life prediction error of 13.8%. Compared to the non-resonant displacement loading condition, the inertial loads caused by acceleration under resonance conditions led to a reduction in fatigue life of approximately 77.8%.

Fatigue life evaluation of laser welded lap joints of dissimilar aluminum alloys

Abstract Constant amplitude fatigue tests were conducted on 6061/7075 dissimilar aluminum alloy laser welded lap specimens, as well as weld line cross-section hardness measurements. The fatigue test results show that the specimens exhibit multiple fracture modes that exit near the weld seam. The microhardness data on weld line cross-section from 7075 side to 6061 side display a sharp change and the softening phenomenon is serious. The hardness variation in heat affected zone of laser welding is very shallow, and its hardness is close to that of the base material. It was found that there are slag inclusions and pores in the weld seam when observing the fatigue fracture surface using SEM, and a small amount of secondary cracks were generated. However, stress concentration plays a dominant role in causing specimen fracture under fatigue loading, rather than welding defects. Defective specimens are found to have higher fatigue strength. The fatigue life prediction results obtained by the notch stress method and the hot spot stress method are both conservative and fall within two factor lines. The hot spot stress method has relatively higher accuracy for life prediction. The accuracy of both methods in predicting life is influenced by the location of the fracture.

Multi-crack propagation analysis of double-side welded rib-to-deck joint in orthotropic steel decks

Rib-to-deck welded joints are among the most susceptible to fatigue in orthotropic bridge decks (OSDs). Prior research has primarily examined the stress intensity factor (SIF) and propagation morphology of a solitary fracture at these joints, allocating limited attention to the investigation of the propagation of multiple cracks. This paper presents a methodology for simulating and computing the weld toe magnification factor and the SIF of semi-elliptical surface cracks in innovative double-sided welded rib-to-deck (DWRTD) joints. The intention was to simplify the calculation of the SIF for this fatigue detail. The SIF obtained from the calculation model in combination with a multiple crack coalescence approach resulted in a series of fatigue life prediction models of multiple co-planar semi-elliptical cracks. Compared with the results of fatigue tests on the DWRTD joints, the calculated fatigue life and propagation morphology of multiple cracks from the model showed good agreement. Finally, the parameters were analysed to investigate the effects of crack number, bridge deck thickness, residual stress, and penetration rate. Compared to a single crack, multiple cracks reduced the service life of the bridge deck by approximately 30%. When the bridge deck thickness increases from 12 mm to 20 mm, the nominal stress amplitude near the weld ∆σ decreases by 2.2 times, resulting in a 7-fold increase in crack propagation time. Compared to penetration rate and residual stress, ∆σ is the most crucial factor affecting fatigue propagation life. Therefore, it is suggested to increase the thickness of the bridge deck during design.

Energy-Based Unified Models for Predicting the Fatigue Life Behaviors of Austenitic Steels and Welded Joints in Ultra-Supercritical Power Plants.

The development of a cost-effective and accurate model for predicting the fatigue life of materials is essential for designing thermal power plants and assessing their structural reliability under operational conditions. This paper reports a novel energy-based approach for developing unified models that predict the fatigue life of boiler tube materials in ultra-supercritical (USC) power plants. The proposed method combines the Masing behavior with a cyclic stress-strain relationship and existing stress-based or strain-based fatigue life prediction models. Notably, the developed models conform to the structure of the modified Morrow model, which incorporates material toughness (a temperature compensation parameter) into the Morrow model to account for the effects of temperature. A significant advantage of this approach is that it eliminates the need for tensile tests, which are otherwise essential for assessing material toughness in the modified Morrow model. Instead, all material constants in our models are derived solely from fatigue test results. We validate our models using fatigue data from three promising USC boiler tube materials-Super304H, TP310HCbN, and TP347H-and their welded joints at operating temperatures of 500, 600, and 700 °C. The results demonstrate that approximately 91% of the fatigue data for all six materials fall within a 2.5× scatter band of the model's predictions, indicating a high level of accuracy and broad applicability across various USC boiler tube materials and their welded joints, which is equivalent to the performance of the modified Morrow model.

Strain energy density and entire fracture surface parameters relationship for LCF life prediction of additively manufactured 18Ni300 steel

In this study, the connection between total strain energy density and fracture surface topography is investigated in additively manufactured maraging steel exposed to low-cycle fatigue loading. The specimens were fabricated using laser beam powder bed fusion (LB-PBF) and examined under fully-reversed strain-controlled setup at strain amplitudes scale from 0.3% to 1.0%. The post-mortem fracture surfaces were explored using a non-contact 3D surface topography measuring system and the entire fracture surface method. The focus is on the relationship between fatigue characteristics, expressed by the total strain energy density, and the fracture surface topography features, represented by areal, volume, and fractal dimension factors. A fatigue life prediction model based on total strain energy density and fracture surface topography parameters is proposed. The presented model shows good accordance with fatigue test results and outperforms other existing models based on the strain energy density. This model can be useful for post-failure analysis of engineering elements under low-cycle fatigue, especially for materials produced by additive manufacturing (AM).

A novel two-scale nonlinear damage accumulation model for vibration fatigue life prediction

Vibration is the main factor causing high cycle fatigue. The macro-response stress and strain of the structure under the excitation of vibration load are generally in the elastic stage. However, fatigue failure still occurs due to long-term cyclic load, which is unexplainable by the macro-plastic accumulation method. Therefore, a two-scale nonlinear damage accumulation model is proposed for vibration fatigue based on the physical characteristics of multi-scale fatigue damage evolution. In this model, two-scale elastic-plastic constitutive equations based on the equivalent inclusion theory are built, and a two-stage damage accumulation strategy with two critical damages is designed. A resonance fatigue life prediction algorithm is established based on the proposed model, and a validation test is carried out using the cantilever beam made of GH4169 alloy. The results show that the deviation between the vibration fatigue life prediction and test results is within a scatter band of factor 2, indicating that the two-scale nonlinear damage accumulation model is effective in the vibration fatigue region.

Mechanical-thermal coupling fatigue failure of CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy

High entropy alloys exhibit excellent performance under different-temperature conditions. In order to investigate the effect of temperature on the mechanical-thermal coupling fatigue failure of classical CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy to accelerate the application of high entropy alloys, the uniaxial tensile and fatigue tests at temperatures ranging from RT to 500 °C were conducted, and statics simulation analysis of fatigue specimens under fatigue loading conditions was conducted. The results of the uniaxial tensile tests illustrated that the yield stress and tensile strength of the alloy decreased with increasing temperature. In contrast, the elongation after the fracture of the alloy increased with temperature. The fatigue test results revealed that the fatigue life decreased as the temperature increased. The fracture morphology of the fatigue specimens and the flank morphology and dislocation distribution near the crack nucleation zone were collected to support the investigation. Accordingly, the reasons for the high-temperature-induced decrease in fatigue crack nucleation and propagation lives were systematically investigated. The main reasons for the higher-temperature-induced decrease in crack nucleation lives were a decrease in the yield stress of the alloy, more easily triggered dislocation motion and stress homogenization. The reasons for the decrease in fatigue crack propagation lives induced by higher temperatures were the more prone occurrence of dislocation motion, a decrease in yield stress, and a decrease in the area of the crack propagation region.

Progressive Bilateral Ptosis in Adduction Deficit: True Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia (INO) or Pseudo-INO?

Abstract
 Introduction : Bilateral INO is a rare disease caused by a lesion in the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) in the pons, resulting in adduction deficit. Progression to ptosis is rare and may confuse with pseudo-INO as in ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG). This case aims to report progressive ptosis in bilateral INO that mimics pseudo-INO.
 Case Illustration : A 36-year-old woman complained sudden binocular diplopia 4 days before admission. Bilateral adduction deficits (-3 and -2 of right and left eye, respectively) with nystagmus were seen. There was no ptosis. The patient was diagnosed with bilateral INO. One month later, the patient returned with bilateral ptosis. The marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD1) were 0 on both eyes. Post fatigue and ice pack test showed 2mm difference of MRD1. The single fiber electromyography (EMG) result came out negative with jitter <10%. Brain MRI revealed lesions in the posterior pons and periaqueductal on the level of midbrain.
 Discussion : The MLF controls 6th and contralateral 3rd cranial nerve nucleus for horizontal gaze. Ptosis in INO can occurred due to central caudal subnucleus involvement in midbrain that innervates levator palpebra. The result of fatigue and ice pack test may be misleading, as those are not pathognomonic for OMG. The single-fiber EMG are valuable modalities to exclude pseudo-INO in this case.
 Conclusion : Progressive bilateral ptosis may occur in bilateral INO. Fatigue and ice pack test may give false- positive results leading to confusion with pseudo-INO, rather than true INO. Supporting examinations are needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Investigation on the Performance of Modified Corn Stalk Fiber AC-13 Asphalt Mixture

As an agricultural waste, a large amount of corn stalk will cause environmental pollution. In order to realize the resource utilization of waste and meet the strict requirements of modern traffic on pavement strength and durability, it was modified and applied to an AC-13 asphalt mixture to study its influence on the road performance of asphalt mixture and its mechanism. The road performances of modified corn stalk fiber, lignin fiber, and ordinary asphalt mixtures were evaluated via the wheel tracking test, low-temperature bending test, water immersion Marshall test, freeze–thaw splitting test, and fatigue test. Based on the results of three-point bending fatigue test, the viscoelastic parameters and indexes of the fiber asphalt mixture were obtained by fitting the loading specimen and deflection data with the Burgers constitutive model, and the creep strain response was analyzed by applying dynamic load, so as to explore the relationship between the viscoelastic characteristics and creep behavior of modified corn stalk fiber and AC-13 mixture. The long-term high-temperature performance test of the asphalt mixture with the best fiber content was carried out by using the long-term pavement intelligent monitoring equipment independently developed by the group of investigators. According to the findings, the ideal fiber contents for modified corn and lignin in asphalt mixture are 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. Among them, the modified corn stalk fiber with a 0.2% content has the best effect on road performance, viscoelastic performance, and the asphalt mixture’s creep behavior under dynamic load. Compared with the 0.3% lignin fiber asphalt mixture, its dynamic stability, bending stiffness modulus, immersion residual stability, freeze–thaw splitting strength ratio, and loading times at failure increased by 19.9%, 18.28%, 4.19%, 8.6%, and 9.15%, respectively. Compared with ordinary asphalt mixture, it increased by 47.0%, 28.72%, 7.65%, 15%, and 75.81%, respectively. Moreover, when modified corn stalk fiber is added at 0.2%, the viscoelastic delay time of asphalt mixture is the longest, the strain peak value and rut depth are at a minimum, and the viscoelastic properties, creep properties, and long-term high-temperature properties are the best.

Distinctive mechanism and model for whole-life ratcheting of cement-stabilized aggregates in tensile fatigue tests

In light of the limited research on the fatigue damage and plastic strain evolution of cement-stabilized aggregates (CSA) despite their widespread application, this study aims at modeling the ratcheting of CSA, which provides better characterization of fatigue by counting plastic strain accumulation. Uniaxial and indirect tensile fatigue tests were conducted to obtain the plastic strain accumulation and stress-strain curves. A bar system was constructed to describe the ratcheting mechanism of CSA, which considers the non-homogeneity of CSA's components and composes parallel bars with a distribution of plastic-damage properties. The ratcheting rate variation was attributed to the strength distribution of the bars. Then, to prevent complex and hard-to-implement parameter fitting, a predigested ratcheting model was proposed, which focuses only on the secant modulus and simplifies the generation of ratcheting to the difference between reloading and unloading secant modulus. The test results revealed a three-stages characteristic in the ratcheting evolution of CSA. The non-coincidence of reloading and unloading curves was deemed the intuitive cause of the ratcheting. The numerical implementation of the proposed mechanism indicated that the strength and modulus discrepancies between weak and strong bars can lead to ratcheting. By comparing with the experimental results, the effectiveness of the proposed model was verified in describing the ratcheting evolution of CSA and to characterizing the non-linearity of the accumulation curves. Moreover, the parameter fitting process requires the results of the current fatigue test instead of parallel tests or other loading tests, successfully eliminating calibration difficulties resulted from significant property discrepancies among CSA specimens.

Experimental study on axial compression fatigue of grouted connection in jacket offshore wind turbines

The grouted connection (GC) of the offshore wind turbine (OWT) jacket foundation mainly bears axial loads, the wind and wave load in the working environment make the structure prone to fatigue problems. The construction environment of the OWT foundation is relatively harsh, so there will be vertical and horizontal errors during the construction process. In this paper, the fatigue test of 9 specimens were designed to analyze the influence of vertical and horizontal errors, water ingression and other factors on the axial fatigue performance of the GC section. The static ultimate bearing capacity test was carried out to determine the load ranges of the fatigue test. Results of fatigue tests indicate that the fatigue performance of the GC considerably degenerates with the load eccentricity, especially at the end sections of the inner and outer tubes. Water ingression has a significant negative influence on the fatigue performance of the GC section. The presence of water contributes to the propagation and development of cracks in the grout layer. Load range, vertical and horizontal errors and grout material have negligible effect on the fatigue performance of the structure.

Investigations on the influence of angular and linear misalignment on the fatigue strength of HFMI-treated structural steel butt joints

The effect of High-Frequency Mechanical Impact (HFMI) treatment on the fatigue resistance of structural steel S355 butt welds with macro geometric imperfections outside of the usual fatigue design limits was investigated. Thin-walled specimens (t = 8 mm) were manufactured with different degrees of angular and linear misalignment and fatigue tested in the as welded and HFMI treated condition. The fatigue test results show that HFMI treatment can compensate the fatigue strength-reducing effects of macro geometric imperfections (ΔσC,HFMI = 127 N/mm2, m = 5), but also that linear and angular misalignment does not reduce the fatigue strength of butt welds as severely as rules and guidelines suggest (ΔσC,AW = 107 N/mm2, m = 3). Underestimating the fatigue strength determined by testing by more than 40%, numerical analysis and strain gauge measurements show that the application of the effective notch stress approach and the structural hot-spot stress approach delivers conservative assessment results, which might not always be representative for the actual fatigue strength benefit that can be gained by HFMI treatment.

Evaluation of the fatigue resistance of butt-welded joints in towers of wind turbines — a comparison of experimental studies with small scale and component tests as well as numerical based approaches with local concepts

Wind turbines must endure a high number of load cycles during their service lifetime. Therefore, the fatigue strength verification plays an important role. Butt-welded joints are one of the most common structural details in the tower structure of wind turbines. In general, the nominal stress method is used for their fatigue verification. The Eurocode 3 part 1–9 is the current design standard for this field of application and defines the fatigue resistance by pre-defined FAT-classes. This paper presents recent results of fatigue tests on small-scaled specimens and large components with transverse butt welds to discuss the validity of the FAT-class. In addition, results from numerical simulations for the verification with the effective notch stress and the crack propagation approach are used for comparison. For this purpose, macroscopic measurements of the weld seam geometry and a 3D scan were used for a realistic consideration of the notch effect in the simulation. Based on the consistency between the numerical results and the fatigue tests, the influence of the seam geometry on the fatigue resistance was worked out. Furthermore, a prediction of the fatigue strength of butt-welded joints with plate thicknesses up to 80 mm was carried out.

Surface integrity and fatigue behavior of AISI 4340 steel after hybrid laser-ultrasonic assisted ball burnishing process

The final surface modification processes enhance the fatigue strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of the workpiece by improving the surface quality, enhancing the microhardness, generating compressive residual stresses on the surface, and creating favorable changes in the microstructure. In this regard, using processes with different mechanisms is regarded as an optimal method to increase the efficiency of the final surface modification processes. This research seeks to experimentally investigate the hybrid laser-ultrasonic assisted ball burnishing (LUAB) process and its effect on the surface integrity and fatigue strength of 4340 alloy steel. The effect of the process on the sample’s microstructure was evaluated by the images obtained from the optical microscope and SEM. Further, the parameters of mean surface roughness and microhardness, as well as the results of the uniaxial tensile test and fatigue test of the workpiece were evaluated. In the case of using appropriate parameters in the process, the results indicated a 93.38% reduction in mean surface roughness and an increase of surface microhardness by 3.4 times compared to the initial sample. Additionally, the investigation of microstructure revealed the accessibility of homogeneous and refinement martensitic structures without surface melting. The results of uniaxial tensile and fatigue tests indicated a 6.29% increase in tensile strength and a 20.71% increase in the endurance limit of the treated sample (LUAB) compared to the initial sample. Finally, the results also showed a change in the fracture mode in the uniaxial tensile test and a reduction in the final fracture area in the fatigue test.

Investigation of the influence of design parameters onto the cracked lap shear specimen

The Cracked Lap Shear (CLS) specimen allows a mixed-mode loading condition to be generated without a special test fixture using a simple tensile test. The mixed-mode ratio generated is nearly constant over a wide range of crack growth and is representative of the loading conditions in many structural applications of bonded joints. However, this specimen is not standardised, leading to very dissimilar specimen designs in the literature. In this study, the primary design parameter is the sample width in terms of its application for adhesive characterisation, with a typical layup having a 0° layer in contact with the bond line. The results of quasi-static and fatigue tests using varying specimen widths between 5 mm and 40 mm emphasise the specimen width’s influence. Moreover, CLS specimens with the same layup but without an adhesive layer between the adherends are investigated to study the effects of width scaling without a toughened adhesive bond. While the static tests show a linear relationship between specimen width and joint strength, it is different in fatigue tests, where the crack growth rate increases with decreasing specimen width, both for specimens with and without adhesive bond between the joining partners.