Prediction of onset and propagation of damage in the adhesive joining of a dome-separated composite pressure vessel including temperature effects

In this study, a Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) was used to predict the progressive failure behavior of adhesive joining of a domeseparated composite pressure vessel according to variation in the temperatures. A set of cohesive zone parameters for the adhesive material were obtained through Mode I, Mode II, and Mixed Mode I/II interfacial fracture toughness tests. In order to evaluate the effect of temperature on the interfacial fracture toughness, in situ temperature environments were simulated in the range -30 to 60oC, using an environmental chamber and furnace. The double-lap joint test was suggested as a way to verify the proposed CZM and simulation procedure. It was found that good accuracy in the prediction of debonding loads, and the damage onset and growth of adhesive joining, was obtained between the numerical predictions and the experimental results. The results of progressive failure analysis of the adhesive joining of the dome-separated composite pressure vessel showed that the maximum debonded length was predicted to be about 6.0% of the total adhesive length and that the damage onset and propagation behavior of the adhesive joining showed a similar tendency under room and low-temperature environments. However, in the high-temperature environment (60oC), the debonding of the adhesive joining tended to propagate early and quickly compared to the same action under room and low-temperature conditions.