Environmental effects on fatigue behavior of adhesively-bonded pultruded structural joints

The fatigue response of adhesively-bonded pultruded GFRP double-lap joints has been investigated under different environmental conditions. Tests were performed at −35 °C, 23 °C and 40 °C. A fourth set of fatigue data was collected from tests on preconditioned specimens in warm (40 °C) water. The tests were performed at 40 °C and at 90% relative humidity. Specimens were instrumented with strain and crack gages to record fatigue data. In addition to the S–N curves, stiffness fluctuations and crack initiation and propagation during fatigue were monitored. The dominant failure mode was a fiber-tear failure that occurred in the mat layers of the GFRP laminates. In the presence of high humidity, the failure shifted to the adhesive/composite interface. Although the testing temperature was lower than the glass transition temperature of the adhesive, its influence on the fatigue life and fracture behavior of the examined joints was apparent and was aggravated by the presence of humidity.