Abstract
Adhesively bonded aluminum joints have been increasingly used in the automotive industry because of their structural and functional advantages. Interfacial debonding in these joints has become a major concern limiting their performance. The present work is focused on experimental investigation of the influence of surface morphology on the interfacial fracture behavior of the epoxy-aluminum interface. The specimens used in this experimental study were made of an epoxy-aluminum bimaterial strip in the form of a layered double cantilever beam (LDCB). The LDCB specimens were debonded by peeling off the epoxy layer from the aluminum substrate using a steel wedge. Interfacial fracture energy was extracted from the debonding length using a solution for the specimen geometry based on a model of a beam on an elastic foundation. This model was validated by direct finite element analysis. The experimental results establish a direct correlation between the surface roughness of aluminum substrate and the fracture resistance of the epoxy-aluminum interface. The results emphasize the importance of choosing surface features at an appropriate length scale in studying their effects on interfacial fracture resistance.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1685-1711 |
| Number of pages | 27 |
| Journal | Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2003 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Chemistry
- Mechanics of Materials
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Materials Chemistry