The Use of Bilinear Cohesive Zone Model to Study the Fracture of Mode I in Adhesive Joints

Abstract

Adhesively bonded joints can be numerically
simulated using the Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) concepts.
CZM are widely used for the strength prediction of adhesive
joints. The critical strain energy release rate and critical
interface strength are the parameters which must be known
when cohesive elements in ABAQUS software are used. The
formulation of the cohesive finite elements is based on the
CZM approach with the bilinear traction-separation law. In
this work, the parameters of two industrial adhesives
Huntsman Araldite 2015 and resin LY3505/XB3405 for
bonding of epoxy composites are identified. Double
Cantilever Beam (DCB) test data was used for the
identification. Finally, cohesive parameters are identified
comparing numerically simulated load-displacement curves
with experimental data retrieved from literature.
Parametric study is performed to evaluate the variation of
input parameters like initial stiffness, element size, peak
stress and energy release rate ‘G’. From the numerical
evaluation, it was noted that CZM simulation relies largely
on element size and peak cohesive strength.