Effect of pre-bond moisture on the static and fatigue behaviour of bonded joints between CFRP laminates for structural repairs

Resumen

In recent years, the use of composite materials in the aeronautic, automotive, marine construction, etc. has increased significantly. Hence, there is an increasing need for repair technologies on primary structural components, as replacing a damaged component by a new one is not cost effective in many cases. The composite structures experience damage in service that comes from accidental impacts, mechanical stresses, environmental factors (moisture and temperature), etc. Thus, maintenance and repair is the concern of the end users as well as of the manufacturers. Suitable material systems and controlled curing conditions are essential to fabricate reliable repairs. In this work, the effect of pre-bond moisture is analyzed for co-bonded adhesive joints subjected to static and fatigue loads. Specimens with three levels of pre-bond moisture (0%, 0.33% and 1.25%) and two different adhesive films (F1, F2) have been used in the analysis