Fatigue life enhancement of defective structures by bonded repairs

Q. Y. Wang , N. Kawagoishi , Q. Chen , R. M. Pidaparti

Abstract

Defective metallic components and structures are being repaired with bonded composite patches to improve overall mechanical and fatigue properties. In this study, fatigue crack growth tests were conducted on pre-cracked 7075/T6 Aluminum substrates with and without bonded Boron/epoxy patches. A considerable increase in the fatigue life and a decrease in the stress intensity factor (SIF) were observed as the number of patch plies increased. The experimental results demonstrate that the patch configurations and patch thickness can enhance fatigue life by order of magnitude. Quantitative comparisons between analytical and experimental data were made, and the analytical model based on a modified Rose\'s analytical solution appears to best estimate the fatigue life.

Key Words

bonded repair; composite patch; fatigue life; crack growth rate; aluminum alloy; defective structure.

Address

Q. Y. Wang; Department of Civil Engineering & Mechanics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China<br />N. Kawagoishi and Q. Chen; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan<br />R. M. Pidaparti; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA

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