Connection between interface corner and interfacial fracture analyses of an adhesively-bonded butt joint (Q1573194)

Interfacial crack growth in a tensile-loaded, adhesively-bonded butt joint with rigid adherends is analyzed. First, the asymptotic, small-scale cracking solution for a short interfacial crack originating at a sharp interface corner is presented. Then the asymptotic, steady-state solution for a long interfacial crack is discussed. These asymptotic results are compared with full finite element solutions of a butt joint containing a 0.001 to 10 bond thickness long interfacial crack. Finally, the applicability of both interface corner and interfacial fracture mechanics approaches to failure analysis is discussed. The small-scale cracking solution indicates that when one can apply an interface corner failure analysis, one can also apply an interfacial fracture mechanics approach with a suitably chosen inherent flaw. Although the two methods are equivalent, it should be emphasized that the inherent flaw and corresponding toughness may have limited physical significance.