Characterisation and FE simulation of polyurethane elastic bonded joints under multiaxial loading conditions

This paper presents the development of experimental methods based on Digital Image Correlation techniques to measure the local multi-axial deformation behavior of a polyurethane adhesive. Experimental results are then used to identify constitutive parameters of hyperelastic materials models that make it possible to predict the non-linear elastic behavior of the adhesive up to large levels of deformations under multi-axial loading conditions and prior to failure using FE simulation. The methodology is validated by testing and simulating specimens which geometry are representative of bonded joints under service conditions.