Damage tolerance of adhesively bonded pultruded GFRP double-strap joints

Compared with mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding offers numerous advantages in the joining of pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) sections. However, one critical issue associated bonded joints is assessment their behavior considering bondline defects. This paper presents results an experimental investigation damage tolerance adhesively GFRP Double-strap specimens and without defects were prepared tested tension until failure. The location (five different locations bond length width directions), size (10%, 20%, 30% total area both shape (triangular, rectangular, square, circular, elliptical), number (between 1 8) within considered as variable parameters. reports discusses observed failure modes, load–displacement curves, joint capacities, effects Interface debonding was regions neighboring defects, delamination other areas. All exhibited a linear elastic response sudden brittle failure, regardless presence capacity reduction up to 33% could be significant if located at edges area. Defects shapes resulted similar reductions (21%). Furthermore, found more sensitive irregularly shaped (e.g., triangular) reducing effective mitigating than defect was.