Cohesive Zone Modelling for Fatigue Life Analysis of Adhesive Joints

This book explains the numerical method for fatigue life analysis of adhesive joints using the CZM technique. CZM is a robust approach that is widely used for failure analysis of adhesive joints exposed to various stress conditions including fatigue. In this book, various aspects of the numerical evaluation of adhesive bonds using CZM are discussed. First of all, it is explained how different load and environmental parameters influence the service life of adhesive connections. Various types of CZM shapes and their applications are then discussed. It was answered how different parameters of a CZM should be defined. It is also discussed which CZM form should be used for each condition. The book then describes how the CZM parameters should be degraded to simulate the cyclic loading behavior of bonded structures. Various CZM strategies for the fatigue life assessment of adhesive joints are discussed. The book presents various techniques that can be followed for the simulation of load cycles for both high-cycle and low-cycle fatigue regimes based on the concepts of the CZM. Details of numerical methods to be considered in the FE software for the fatigue life assessment of adhesives with CZM are also described in this book. Finally, some numerical examples using CZM are also provided.

Alireza Akhavan-Safar is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management (INEGI). He earned his Ph.D. in 2017 in the field of adhesive joints. His postdoctoral research focuses primarily on the durability (hygrothermal ageing and fatigue) of bonded joints both numerically and experimentally. The investigation of the mechanical response of adhesive joints from the fracture mechanics point of view is also part of his research.

Eduardo A. S. Marques is Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management (INEGI) and guest lecturer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). He obtained his PhD in the area of structural adhesive bonding for aerospace applications at FEUP in 2016 and now studies the effect of high strain rates, extreme temperature and high relative humidity on the behaviour of various materials and bonded structures.

Ricardo J. C. Carbas is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Advanced Joining Processes unit, part of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management (INEGI). He obtained his PhD in functionally graded bonded joints from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto in 2013 and regularly carries out consultancy work for national and international companies.

Lucas F. M. da Silva is Full Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) and editor-in-chief of The Journal of Adhesion. He leads the Advanced Joining Processes Unit (AJPU) of INEGI.