Detection of the Debonding in Al-Pultruded GFRP Adhesively Bonded Joints with Optical Fibers

In the present study, methods in which the debonding is detected in the adhesively bonded joint constructed with aluminum and pultruded GFRP (PULGFRP) plates using an optical fiber have been investigated. The proposed detecting methods for the debonding in the bonded joints utilize the breakage of the embedded optical fiber caused by the damage such as cracks. In the present study, two detecting methods for the debonding in which the situations of the embedded optical fiber in the bonded joint were different were adopted, and their ability of detecting the debonding were examined. Further, the effects of embedding the optical fibers in the bonded joints on the strength of the joints were investigated, and the ability of the detection of the debonding in the joints whose adhesives were in undercure was also studied. From these results, the applicability of these detecting methods to the health-monitoring system were investigated. As the conclusions it was obtained that one of the two methods could be applied to the health-monitoring system as the detecting method for the debonding in the Al-PULGFRP adhesively bonded joints.