Thermal cycling and environmental effect on tensile impact behavior of hybrid single lap joints for fiber metal laminate

This experimental study investigates the effects of sea water and thermal cycling conditions on strength of hybrid lap joints (Adhesive and Steel bolt) made for fiber metal laminate (FML) and 430 stainless steel adherends subjected to standard tensile impact loading condition. The FMLs are made of three alternative layers of two 430 stainless steel sheets and one prepreg glass fiber reinforced composite (G10) layer. The joints are kept in the sea water taken from Persian Gulf for 30 days in the laboratory. Some of the specimens are then thermally cycled in an oven and also the others are kept in liquid nitrogen for 0, 5 and 10 cycles and afterwards tested. Experimental results revealed that the absorbed energy by hybrid lap joint specimens that are subjected to sea water is reduced. The hybrid joint strength is improved at high temperature, but decreased at cryogenic temperatures with respect to sea water at 0 thermal cycling and ambient temperature.