Assessment of experimental methods for calibrating rate-dependent cohesive zone models for predicting failure in adhesively bonded metallic structures

• Large database on rate-dependent behavior of structural adhesive.
• Assessment of “best practice” for calibrating cohesive zone models.
• Application to modeling a bonded structure with complex failure behavior.

Calibration of rate-dependent cohesive zone models for predicting damage and failure in adhesively bonded structures requires several parameters including rate dependent strength values in mode I and shear loading. This paper presents a total of six different combinations of parameter sets for mode I and shear strength which can all be derived from available experimental data. A finite element model of a T-joint subjected to six different loading configurations is calibrated with the six different parameter sets. Based on the available experimental data, recommendations are given for the type of test to choose for calibration of rate dependent strength parameters. It is recommended to use data from thick walled tube specimens for the mode I strength and a combination of torsion tests on thin-walled tubes and compressive double lap shear tests for the calibration of rate-dependent shear strength.