Fracture Behavior Under Mode I Loading in Laminated Composite Materials Repaired with Structural Adhesives
Highlights
- Adhesive-based repair partially restores the Mode I fracture performance of previously delaminated CFRP laminates, reaching values comparable to the baseline material.
- The laminate with a modified epoxy matrix (AS4/8552) shows significantly higher fracture toughness than the unmodified epoxy system (AS4/3501-6), even after adhesive-based repair.
- Repair effectiveness strongly depends on the mechanical behaviour and ductility of the adhesive, with acrylic adhesives providing enhanced energy dissipation and more stable crack propagation under Mode I loading.
- Adhesive selection for composite repair should prioritize energy dissipation capability rather than stiffness alone, especially for damage scenarios dominated by Mode I.
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Materials and Specimens
2.2. Adhesives
2.3. Static Fracture Toughness
3. Results and Discussion
4. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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| Properties | Epoxy (2-Components) | Acrylic |
|---|---|---|
| Impact resistance | Poor | Good |
| Service temperature (°C) | −55 to 120 | −70 to 120 |
| Curing temperature/mixing required | Yes | No |
| Odor | Low | Low |
| Toxicity | Moderate | Moderate |
| Flammability | Low | Low |
| Material | Elastic Modulus | Tensile Strength | Shear Modulus | Shear Strength | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E11 GPa | E22 [GPa] | σ11 [MPa] | σ22 [MPa] | G12 [GPa] | τmax [MPa] | |
| 8552 | 144 | 10.6 | 1703 | 30.8 | 5.36 | 67.7 |
| 3501-6 | 131 | 8.9 | 1954 | 24 | 5.09 | 79.3 |
| Base | Viscosity [mPa·s] | Tensile Modulus [GPa] | Tensile Strength [MPa] | Shear Strength [MPa] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loctite® EA 9461TM | Epoxy | 150,000 a 250,000 | 2.76 | 30.3 | 13.8 |
| Araldite® 2015 | Epoxy | Thixotropic | 2 | 30.0 | 15.0 |
| 3MTM DP8810NS | Acrylic | 45,000 | 0.86 | 11.37 | 6.9 |
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Vigón, P.; Argüelles, A.; Lozano, M.; Viña, J. Fracture Behavior Under Mode I Loading in Laminated Composite Materials Repaired with Structural Adhesives. Fibers 2026, 14, 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib14020020
Vigón P, Argüelles A, Lozano M, Viña J. Fracture Behavior Under Mode I Loading in Laminated Composite Materials Repaired with Structural Adhesives. Fibers. 2026; 14(2):20. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib14020020
Chicago/Turabian StyleVigón, Paula, Antonio Argüelles, Miguel Lozano, and Jaime Viña. 2026. "Fracture Behavior Under Mode I Loading in Laminated Composite Materials Repaired with Structural Adhesives" Fibers 14, no. 2: 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib14020020
APA StyleVigón, P., Argüelles, A., Lozano, M., & Viña, J. (2026). Fracture Behavior Under Mode I Loading in Laminated Composite Materials Repaired with Structural Adhesives. Fibers, 14(2), 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib14020020

