Shear strength of adhesive layers – Models and experiments

The mode II properties of adhesives joints are of special interest since these joints are strongest if loaded in shear. Today no standardized method is available to measure shear properties. After a brief discussion of different models used to analyse adhesive joints, we identify some of the reasons for problems that arise in some of the more frequently used experimental methods. It is shown that transversally loaded specimens with elastically deforming adherends can lead to unstable crack growth provided the un-cracked specimen is flexible. With tough adhesives, a substantial process zone develops at the crack tip. That is, most specimens are in a state of large scale yielding. If not properly taken into account, the evaluated properties will be in error. Moreover, the process zone may grow in under the loading point which hinders its evolution and yield errors in the evaluated properties. Modest variations in loading conditions using the same specimen can yield considerable variation in the evaluated properties. However, properly designed and used, both the thick-adherend lap-shear joint and the end-notched flexure specimen provide useful results.