Applicability of an experimental procedure applied to DCB tests in adhesive joints

Abstract This paper analyzes the applicability of a recently proposed method in the determination of the mode I fracture energy in the case of adhesive joints. Since this method is based on the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics, the main objective of this work is to check if the effects derived from the use of adhesives are included in the calculation of the GI. As a first step, experimental data are used to analyze the capability of the method in the analysis of DCB specimens bonded with stiff and flexible adhesives. In order to validate numerically the method, a finite element analysis of a DCB test including cohesive zone modelling is carried out. The load-displacement data obtained from the simulation have been utilized as experimental data in the analytical model. In addition, a study of the accuracy of the model with different adhesive and specimen arm’s thicknesses and an uncertainty analysis have been performed.