Effect of carbon nanotube modified epoxy adhesive on CFRP-to-steel interface

The effects of carbon nanotube (CNT) modified epoxy adhesive on CFRP-to-steel interfaces were investigated using double strap joints. The bond behaviours studied were failure modes, bond interface at microlevel, bond strength, effective bond length, CFRP strain distribution and bond-slip relationships.For the first time, a novel type of failure in the CFRP-steel joint was discovered, attributable to weak bonding between woven mesh and CFRP fibres. This failure mode prevented exploitation of the full potential of the carbon fibres and the CNT modified epoxy adhesive. Joints bonded with CNT-epoxy adhesive had an effective bond length of about 60 mm, whereas that of joints bonded with pure epoxy was about 70 mm. The CNT-epoxy adhesive can transfer more load from the host structure to the bonded CFRP laminates, consequently modifying bond behaviour. It is therefore expected that CNT-epoxy nanocomposites will assist in the strengthening and rehabilitation of steel infrastructures using CFRP laminates.     

Experimental study on RC beams with FRP strips bonded with rubber modified resins

This paper presents the effects of adhesive properties on structural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) strips. The epoxy adhesives modified with liquid rubber of different content were used to bond the CFRP strips, and four point bending experiments were carried out on RC beams. The experimental results show that different CFRP strip thickness of 0.22 and 0.44 mm resulted in a transition of failure mechanism from interfacial debonding along the CFRP-concrete interface to concrete cover separation starting from the end of CFRP strips in the concrete. Moreover, it is suggested that no matter interfacial debonding or concrete cover separation, the rubber modifier enhanced the structural performance by increasing the maximum load-carrying capacity and the corresponding ductility, compared with the beams bonded with a neat epoxy resin. The improvement of structural performance due to modified adhesive was associated with the modification of stress profiles along the CFRP-concrete interface especially the stress concentration at the end of FRP, and the enhanced interlaminar fracture toughness. Rubber modified epoxy therefore is worth further studying in practical repair applications.     

CFRP-钢界面粘结性能试验与数值模拟

碳纤维增强聚合物基复合材料（CFRP）与钢板的界面粘结性能为CFRP加固钢结构的关键问题之一。开展了17个CFRP板-钢板单搭接试件的拉伸剪切试验,研究了不同环氧粘结剂与CFRP材料的CFRP-钢界面力学行为和破坏模式;分析了粘结剂类型和CFRP材料对界面粘结滑移本构和界面剪切性能的影响,讨论了其承载力计算方法。结果表明：采用不同的粘结剂或CFRP材料,界面破坏形式和抗剪承载力均差异较大。采用Sika 330、Lica粘结剂的试件为CFRP板或钢板与胶层的界面破坏,采用Araldite粘结剂的试件为CFRP板浅表层离,采用Sika 30粘结剂的试件为胶层内聚破坏,采用SF（Sika S512/80）碳板的试件为CFRP板深层层离;Araldite试件的抗剪承载力为其他试件的1.7~2.9倍。Sika 330、Araldite及Lica试件粘结滑移曲线无明显下降段,属脆性破坏,而Sika 30与SF试件存在缓坡下降段,失效前有一定征兆;SF试件的粘结滑移本构可简化为三折线模型,其余试件则可简化为双线性模型。SF试件抗剪承载力需用Xia-a模型表征,其余试件则可用Xia-b模型表征。基于粘聚力模型对界面力学行为进行了数值模拟,结果表明,粘聚力模型可以较好地模拟界面的非线性力学行为,剥离应力对本单搭接试件的界面粘结强度影响很小。     

Experimental study on CFRP-to-steel bonded interfaces

This paper presents an experimental study on the behaviour of CFRP-to-steel bonded interfaces through the testing of a series of single-lap bonded joints. The parameters examined include the material properties and the thickness of the adhesive layer and the axial rigidity of the CFRP plate. The test results demonstrate that the bond strength of such bonded joints depends strongly on the interfacial fracture energy among other factors. Nonlinear adhesives with a lower elastic modulus but a larger strain capacity are shown to possess a much higher interfacial fracture energy than linear adhesives with a similar or even a higher tensile strength. The variation of the interfacial shear stress distribution in a bonded joint as the applied load increases clearly illustrates the existence of an effective bond length. The bond–slip curve is shown to have an approximately triangular shape for a linear adhesive but to have an approximately trapezoidal shape for a nonlinear adhesive, indicating the necessity of developing different forms of bond–slip models for different adhesives.     

高温下双搭接钢-CFRP板胶粘界面力学性能试验

高温环境下钢-碳纤维增强聚合物复合材料(CFRP)板的胶粘界面是CFRP粘贴加固钢结构的薄弱环节。为掌握温度对钢-CFRP板胶粘界面力学性能的影响,制作了双搭接接头试件,开展了3种胶粘剂在4种温度下(25℃、55℃、70℃和90℃)的静力拉伸试验。探索了接头试件的破坏模式、荷载-位移关系、CFRP板表面应变分布、界面剪应力分布和粘结-滑移关系等。结果表明:当温度低于55℃时,试件的破坏模式与胶粘剂种类相关性更大,当温度高于70℃时,不同胶粘剂的破坏模式具有相似性,且均出现了CFRP板撕裂。温度对不同胶粘试件的承载力影响存在差异,HJY-4105高韧性环氧树脂结构胶粘剂(HJY胶)试件的承载力随温度的升高而增大,LICA-100A/B 环氧树脂结构胶粘剂(LICA胶)试件的温度稳定性较差,Sikadur-30 CN双组份环氧结构加固碳板胶(SIKA30胶)试件在55℃时承载力最高。随着温度升高,胶粘层的剪切强度、界面剪应力峰值和剪切刚度下降,胶粘剂的延性增加,峰值剪应力不影响试件的抗拉强度。温度对粘结-滑移关系的影响显著,HJY胶随着温度的升高,粘结-滑移本构的延性增加,破坏模式由脆性破坏变为延性破坏。研究表明:合理的耐高温胶应用于钢结构加固,能适应自然高温环境的不利影响。      

Modelling experimental bond fatigue failures of concrete beams strengthened with NSM CFRP rods

Near surface mounting (NSM) is a promising strengthening technique provided that the full bond between the strengthening material and the existing structure develops. Wahab et al. (2011) reported fatigue bond failures by de-bonding between the CFRP rod and the epoxy that started at mid span. As the load was cycled, the de-bonding propagated towards the support. The model presented here describes the failure of those beams. The de-bonding was modeled as a crack growing at the interface between the CFRP rod and the epoxy where the driving force was the interfacial shear stresses between the CFRP rod and the epoxy. Once the stresses at the crack tip exceeded the allowable fatigue stresses between the CFRP rod and the epoxy, de-bonding occurred and the crack length increased. Ahead of the crack tip, the CFRP rod was fully bonded to the epoxy and the forces decayed exponentially. Behind the crack tip, the rod was partially de-bonded. The experimental and calculated number of cycles until excessive slipping between the CFRP rod and the epoxy occurred and the forces in the CFRP rod at all locations in the shear span at the onset of failure were in good agreement.     

Performance of steel beams strengthened with CFRP laminate – Part 2: FE analyses

A new method for repairing and strengthening steel is under development and consists of using CFRP (carbon-fibre-reinforced-polymer) laminates bonded to the steel substrate. Research on this method has been conducted by a few research groups in recent years. The idea is to let the CFRP laminate carry a large part of the stresses and thereby reduce the load on the steel, which may have had its capacity lowered due to deterioration or fatigue. The present paper presents the results of FE analyses of steel beams strengthened with bonded CFRP laminates. The interfacial shear and peeling stresses that appear in the bond line between the steel and CFRP laminate are studied in both the elastic and plastic phase of the steel beam. Comparisons with the results obtained from laboratory tests conducted on steel beams strengthened with bonded CFRP laminates show that the behaviour of the strengthened beams can be captured using FE analyses. The distribution of the shear and peeling stresses near the end of the bond line were obtained from the FE analyses, together with the interfacial stresses that develop near beam mid-span due to the yielding of the steel. These stresses may exceed the capacity of the adhesive and cause debonding in this region.     

Chemical functionalization of composite surfaces for improved structural bonded repairs

In terms of lightweight design, aerodynamics and structural integrity, bonded repairs represent the preferred approach for repairing composite structures in aircraft applications. In this work the influence of crucial surface parameters including roughness, polarity and chemical composition on the performance of bonded repairs is studied. Besides mechanical and physical interactions, the study aims at the surface modification of carbon-fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) to tailor chemical interactions with the adhesive. Reactive epoxy and mercapto derivatives are attached onto the CFRP surface by a 2-step functionalization route to ensure optimized adhesion and covalent bonding to epoxy-based adhesives. The performance of bonded coupon joints is determined by single lap shear tests (tensile-shear loading) and fracture mechanical tests (mode I loading). The results give evidence that chemical interactions play a key role in the quality of bonded repair systems. By controlling the chemical surface properties improved bond strength, homogenous crack growth and cohesive failure patterns are achieved.     

纳米SiO2质量分数对胶粘碳纤维增强树脂复合材料板-钢搭接界面黏结性能的影响

胶黏剂力学性能对碳纤维增强树脂复合材料(CFRP)加固钢结构的界面黏结性能影响显著。基于研制的胶黏剂配比,分析了不同纳米SiO₂质量分数对胶黏剂常温固化后基本力学性能及微观结构的影响,制作了31个CFRP板-钢板双搭接试件,对其进行了常温固化后的承载能力、有效黏结长度、传力模式、黏结-滑移本构等试验研究,得出了纳米SiO₂质量分数对CFRP板-钢板搭接试件界面黏结性能的影响规律,并与常用商品胶黏剂进行了比较。研究结果表明:随纳米SiO₂质量分数的增加,胶黏剂应力-应变关系由线性转变为非线性,应变能、断裂伸长率及剪切强度分别最高提升了292.10%、202.88%和133.12%。微观结构分析表明纳米SiO₂的添加使断面粗糙度显著增加,形成了密集的塑性空穴,产生了更多的微裂纹,使胶黏剂的韧性大幅度提高。当纳米SiO₂质量分数从0增至1wt%,搭接试件破坏模式由界面破坏逐渐变为CFRP板层离破坏。掺入纳米SiO₂能显著增加搭接试件的极限承载力(提升256.96%)及界面有效黏结长度(提升3倍),提高CFRP表面的应变及界面剪应力峰值。纳米SiO₂质量分数为0与0.5wt%的搭接试件的黏结-滑移曲线为双线性三角形模型,纳米SiO₂质量分数为1wt%的搭接试件的黏结-滑移曲线为三线性梯形模型,黏结界面韧性大幅提升。CFRP-钢界面承载能力受胶黏剂拉伸强度与断裂伸长率的双重影响,非线性高强度(即具有较高应变能)胶黏剂对应的CFRP-钢搭接接头具有更好的界面性能。      

碳纤维布加固RC梁中粘结性能的非线性有限元分析

碳纤维布加固钢筋混凝土(RC)梁中,碳纤维布与梁底混凝土的剥离破坏使碳纤维布的强度不能得到充分发挥。分析碳纤维布与梁底混凝土的粘结应力,是研究碳纤维布加固剥离破坏承载力的基础问题。根据4根碳纤维布加固RC梁的试验研究结果,采用商业有限元程序MSC.Marc建立有限元模型,进行了非线性计算分析。通过分离总粘结应力中的局部粘结应力,得到粘结延伸长度范围内的锚固粘结应力分布,并结合试验数据对其分布规律进行了研究。根据分析和试验结果,引入了“有效锚固粘结长度”和“锚固粘结应力”的概念,给出了极限荷载下锚固粘结应力的计算建议。     

Wet thermo-mechanical behavior of steel–CFRP joints – An experimental study

The long term durability of CFRP strengthened steel structures is a key parameter for their safe use and effective design. Strengthened members can be subjected to different environmental conditions and loading scenarios during their service life, the effect of which on the failure mechanism of the strengthened member requires fundamental investigations. This paper presents an experimental investigation into the effects of wet thermo-mechanical loading on the bond strength and the failure mode of steel–CFRP single lap joints. A total of thirty four steel–CFRP single lap shear specimens were prepared and exposed to different combinations of wet thermal cycle ranges and sustained loads. The results show that these conditions (wet thermal cycles and sustained loads) have little impact on the bond strength of steel–CFRP lap joint when applied separately. However, when applied simultaneously, the bond strength of the joint is significantly reduced with failure observed at less than 30% of the static strength under temperatures that are well below the glass transition temperature of the adhesive.     

胶膜连接碳纤维增强树脂复合材料板-钢搭接接头室温条件的力学性能试验

针对碳纤维增强树脂（CFRP）复合材料板-钢搭接接头连接的糊状胶黏剂粘层厚一致性控制较难、铅垂向成形可能不易等问题,将糊状胶黏剂换成胶膜,制作了胶膜连接的五种粘结长度共15个CFRP板-钢双搭接接头试件,并对该胶膜连接的CFRP板-钢搭接接头进行了室温条件下的破环模式、有效粘结长度、传力规律、粘结-滑移本构、承载力等的试验研究。结果表明:所用胶膜的连接强度略高于CFRP板层间强度（即碳纤维与树脂基体的黏聚强度）;室温下,所用胶膜连接的CFRP板-钢搭接接头有效粘结长度约为80 mm;加载初期,剪应力最大值位于接头钢板端;继续加载,其位置向接头CFRP板端移动;加载末期,其位置位于距接头钢板端20 mm （粘结长度不超过80 mm时）或者50 mm （粘结长度不小于120 mm时）处;胶膜连接的CFRP板-钢搭接接头界面粘结-滑移模型为近似梯形,不同于胶黏剂连接的CFRP板-钢搭接接头的近似三角形,胶膜连接接头的延性大为提升;所用胶膜连接接头界面峰值剪应力、断裂能、界面刚度等代表值（可视为准平均值）分别为四种典型商品胶黏剂连接接头的1.2~3.0倍、1.6~5.7倍和5.4~7.5倍;在粘结长度不小于有效粘结长度条件下,所用胶膜连接接头的抗拉承载力代表值为四种典型商品胶黏剂连接接头的1.25~2.39倍;胶膜连接接头的抗拉承载力、最大位移的变异系数与糊状胶黏剂连接接头相差不大。      

Waterproof characteristics of nanoclay/epoxy nanocomposite in adhesively bonded joints

When adhesively bonded joints are exposed to a moist environment, the tensile load capability of the joint is significantly decreased because moisture absorption weakens the mechanical properties of epoxy adhesive. In this paper, a nanoclay with excellent penetration resistance properties was used as a filler in epoxy adhesive in order to enhance adhesive strength in moist environments. The water absorption of the epoxy adhesive and the adhesive strength of the adhesively bonded joints were measured in water absorption experiments with respect to the weight fraction of the nanoclay and the moisture exposure time. These results showed that the tensile load capability of the nanoclay-filled adhesively bonded joint was greatly enhanced, even in a moist environment, because the nanoclay reduced water absorption into the epoxy adhesive as well as into the interface between the epoxy adhesive and the steel adherend and increased the strength of the epoxy adhesive itself.     

Comparative durability evaluation of ambient temperature cured externally bonded CFRP and GFRP composite systems for repair of bridges

In recent years externally bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been increasingly accepted as an efficient means of rehabilitating deteriorating and under-strength concrete structures. In the case of the two primary application procedures – wet layup of fabric and adhesive bonding of prefabricated strips, the efficacy and reliability of the approach intrinsically depends on the strength and durability of bond between the FRP and the concrete substrate. This paper presents results from an extensive 24-month study, involving ten different external strengthening FRP systems, to assess the durability of the bond under environmental exposure conditions including immersion in water, immersion in salt water, ponding at different humidity levels, and exposure to freeze conditions of –18 °C. The FRP systems were characterized through determination of moisture uptake characteristics, tensile strength and modulus of the resins and adhesives, and direct tension pull-off testing of the FRP-concrete assembly. As expected from ambient temperature cure systems, both tensile characteristics and pull-off strength show degradation with time under specific environmental exposure conditions. Differences in bond durability are discussed based on system and exposure type and it is seen that exposure to the −18 °C environment results in the highest level of deterioration overall. The results indicate that the use of wet layup, with appropriately selected resins, and well fabricated composites, may at present have advantages over the use of adhesive bonded systems as related to long-term durability of the FRP-concrete bond. They also suggest that the changes in characteristics in resin/adhesive and bond due to environment exposure induced deterioration need to be considered in design to avoid premature failure.     

Mechanical behaviour of corroded RC beams strengthened by NSM CFRP rods

Corrosion of steel in reinforced concrete leads to several major defects. Firstly, a reduction in the cross-sectional area of the reinforcement and in its ductility results in premature bar failure. Secondly, the expansion of the corrosion products causes concrete cracking and steel–concrete bond deterioration and also affects the bending stiffness of the reinforced concrete members, causing a reduction in the overall load-bearing capacity of the reinforced concrete beams. This paper investigates the validity of a repair technique using Near Surface Mounted (NSM) carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) rods to restore the mechanical performance of corrosion-damaged RC beams. In the NSM technique, the CFRP rods are placed inside pre-cut grooves and are bonded to the concrete with epoxy adhesive.Experimental results were obtained on two beams: a corroded beam that had been exposed to natural corrosion for 25 years and a control beam, (both are 3 m long) repaired in bending only. Each beam was repaired with one 6-mm-diameter NSM CFRP rod. The beams were tested in a three-point bending test up to failure. Overall stiffness and crack maps were studied before and after the repair. Ultimate capacity, ductility and failure mode were also reviewed. Finally some comparisons were made between repaired and non-repaired beams in order to assess the effectiveness of the NSM technique. The experimental results showed that the NSM technique improved the overall characteristics (ultimate load capacity and stiffness) of the control and corroded beams and allowed sufficient ductility to be restored to the repaired corroded elements, thus restoring the safety margin, despite the non-classical mode of failure that occurred in the corroded beam, with the separation of the concrete cover due to corrosion products.     

Fatigue behaviour of the bond interface between carbon fibre‐reinforced polymer sheets and concrete

Externally bonded carbon fibre‐reinforced polymers (CFRPs) have been applied to retrofit and strengthen civil structures. In this study, four‐point bending beams were manufactured and tested to examine the fatigue behaviour of the CFRP–concrete interface. The results indicated that the specimens exhibited debonding failure in the concrete beneath the adhesive layer under static loading. However, when cyclic loads were imposed on the small beams, debonding failure may occur in the adhesive layer. Moreover, fitting expressions were proposed to predict the shear stress–slip relationship between the CFRP sheets and concrete and the flexural strength of the CFRP‐strengthened beams under static loads, and good agreement with the test data was obtained. Finally, a fatigue life prediction model was also presented to capture the fatigue life of the CFRP–concrete interface under cyclic loads. The calculation results showed that the fatigue strength of the CFRP–concrete bond interface was approximately 65% of the ultimate load capacity.     

Effect of fatigue loading on the bond behaviour between UHM CFRP plates and steel plates

Extensive research has been conducted on static bond behaviour between CFRP and steel. However, very limited research is available on the effect of fatigue loading on the bond behaviour between CFRP and steel. This paper attempts to fill the knowledge gap in this area. A series of static and fatigue tests on UHM (ultra high modulus) CFRP plate and steel plate double strap joints were conducted. Five specimens were tensioned to failure under static loading as control specimens. The other 12 specimens were tested under fatigue loading with load ratios ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 (defined as the ratio of the maximum fatigue load to the average static bond strength of control specimens). After going through pre-set number of fatigue cycles, the specimens were tensioned to failure under static loading. The failure modes, residual bond strength and residual bond stiffness of such specimens were compared with those of control specimens, to facilitate the investigation of the effect of fatigue loading on the bond behaviour. Microscopic investigation was also performed to reveal the underlying failure mechanism.     

Evaluation of interfacial strength in CF/epoxies using FEM and in-situ experiments

A combined experimental and numerical study has been carried out in order to study the mechanism of initial failure in transversely loaded CF/epoxy composites. Two composites with a high and a low temperature-curing matrix were investigated. Three point bending experiments on macroscopic composite specimen with special laminate lay-ups were carried out in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The in-situ experiments allow observing the onset of microscopic composite failure under transverse loading and measurement of the macroscopic applied load at onset of failure. The experimental results show that interfacial failure was the dominating failure mechanism for both materials. For the same carbon fiber with the same treatment the interfacial failure was adhesive (weak interface) or cohesive (strong interface), depending on the matrix system. The interfacial stresses at initiation of failure were determined successfully by a non-linear micro/macro FE-analysis and compared with experimental results obtained from micro composite test. The results show that the interfacial normal strength (INS) governs failure under transverse loads.     

Co-Curing of CFRP-Steel Hybrid Joints Using the Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion Process

This study focuses on the one-step co-curing process of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) joined with a steel plate to form a hybrid structure. In this process CFRP laminate and bond to the metal are realized simultaneously by resin infusion, such that the same resin serves for both infusion and adhesion. For comparison, the commonly applied two-step process of adhesive bonding is studied. In this case, the CFRP laminate is fabricated in a first stage through resin infusion of Non Crimp Fabric (NCF) and joined to the steel plate in a further step through adhesive bonding. For this purpose, the commercially available epoxy-based Betamate 1620 is applied. CFRP laminates were fabricated using two different resin systems, namely the epoxy (EP)-based RTM6 and a newly developed fast curing polyurethane (PU) resin. Results show comparable mechanical performance of the PU and EP based CFRP laminates. The strength of the bond of the co-cured samples was in the same order as the samples adhesively bonded with the PU resin and the structural adhesive. The assembly adhesive with higher ductility showed a weaker performance compared to the other tests. It could be shown that the surface roughness had the highest impact on the joint performance under the investigated conditions.     

超声强化氨基化多壁碳纳米管改性环氧黏接接头性能研究

目的 探究超声处理对氨基化多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs–NH₂)改性环氧黏接接头黏接性能和热稳定性的影响,为强化MWCNTs–NH₂改性环氧胶黏剂与铝合金的黏接提供参考。方法 通过机械搅拌与声波破碎的方法将质量分数为0.75%的MWCNTs–NH₂添加到环氧胶黏剂基体中,使用MWCNTs–NH₂改性环氧胶黏剂制备铝合金黏接接头,基于超声辅助黏接工艺在铝合金黏接过程中进行超声处理。通过傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR)分析MWCNTs–NH₂改性环氧胶黏剂基体官能团的变化情况。采用单搭接剪切强度试验测定黏接接头的拉伸剪切强度。通过扫描电子显微镜(Scanning Electron Microscope,SEM)观察黏接接头拉伸失效断面以及铝合金与胶黏剂间的黏接界面。通过热失重分析仪(TGA)测试并记录胶黏剂试样质量随温度变化的曲线。结果 经超声处理后,MWCNTs–NH₂与树脂基体间的化学反应增强。与纯环氧黏接接头相比,超声处理后的MWCNTs–NH_2...