Mixed mode modeling of a thin adhesive layer using a meso-mechanical model

A representative volume element is modeled using the finite element method. It is used to analyze mixed mode behavior of a thin adhesive layer. Two sources of dissipation is modeled; plasticity and decohesion. Macroscopic traction–separation laws are extracted from the simulations. The results indicate that a boundary of mode mix exists between a region where major plastic dissipation is present and a region where it is not. Without major plastic dissipation, the fracture energy is low and essentially governed by the cohesive properties. This is the case in peel dominated loading cases. In shear dominated loading cases plastic dissipation gives a substantial contribution to the fracture energy. The results show that pure shear loading gives the largest fracture energy.