Cohesive/Adhesive failure interaction in ductile adhesive joints Part I:A smeared-crack model for cohesive failure

AbstractThis paper proposes a new methodology for the finite element (FE) modelling of failure in adhesively bonded joint. Unlike current methods, cohesive and adhesive failures are treated separately. Initial results show the method׳s ability to give accurate prediction of failure of adhesive joints subjected to thickness-induced constraint and complex multi-axial loading using a single set of material parameters. The present paper (part I), focuses on the development of a smeared-crack model for cohesive failure. Model verification and validation are performed comparing the model predictions with experimental data from 3 point bending End Notched Flexure (3ENF) and Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) fracture tests conducted on adhesively bonded composite panels of different adhesive thicknesses

Exploiting Cation Structure and Water Content in Modulating the Acidity of Ammonium Hydrogen Sulfate Protic Ionic Liquids

In this paper, we investigated the effect of cation structure and water content on proton dissociation in alkylammonium [HSO₄]⁻ protic ionic liquids (ILs) doped with 20 wt % water and correlated this with experimental Hammett acidities. For pure systems, increased cation substitution resulted in a reduction in the number of direct anion–anion neighbors leading to larger numbers of small aggregates, which is further enhanced with addition of water. We also observed spontaneous proton dissociation from [HSO₄]⁻ to water only for primary amine-based protic ILs, preceded by the formation of an anion trimer motif. Investigation using DFT calculations revealed spontaneous proton dissociation from [HSO₄]⁻ to water can occur for each of the protic ILs investigated; however, this is dependent on the size of the anion aggregates. These findings are important in the fields of catalysis and lignocellulosic biomass, where solvent acidity is a crucial parameter in biomass fractionation and lignin chemistry

Cohesive/Adhesive failure interaction in ductile adhesive joints Part II:Quasi-static and fatigue analysis of double lap-joint specimens subjected to through-thickness compressive loading

AbstractThis paper proposes a new methodology for the finite element (FE) modelling of failure in adhesively bonded joints. Cohesive and adhesive failure are treated separately which allows accurate failure predictions for adhesive joints of different thicknesses using a single set of material parameters. In a companion paper (part I), a new smeared-crack model for adhesive joint cohesive failure was proposed and validated. The present contribution gives an in depth investigation into the interaction among plasticity, cohesive failure and adhesive failure, with application to structural joints. Quasi-static FE analyses of double lap-joint specimens with different thicknesses and under different levels of hydrostatic pressure were performed and compared to experimental results. In all the cases studied, the numerical analysis correctly predicts the driving mechanisms and the specimens’ final failure. Accurate fatigue life predictions are made with the addition of a Paris based damage law to the interface elements used to model the adhesive failure

Soil moisture content measurement using optical fiber long period gratings

The use of an optical fibre long period grating (LPG) as a soil moisture sensor is reported. Characterization of the device in both clay and sandy soils revealed a sensitivity to moisture levels in the range 10-50%, and the results were compared with the output from a Theta probe, the standard soil moisture sensor, which measures the impedance of the soil. © (2017) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only

Relating soil organic matter composition to soil water repellency for soil biopore surfaces different in history from two Bt horizons of a Haplic Luvisol

This study was funded by the “German Research Foundation (DFG),”Bonn, under Grant PAK 888. We thank Timo Kautz and the staff of the Institute of Organic Agriculture in Bonn for assistance with the field work. Thanks to the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. We sincerely thank Prof. Dr. MB Kirkham/USA for valuable comments and the final control of the English language.Peer reviewedPostprin

Adaptive Real-Time Characterisation of Composite Precursors in Manufacturing

Experimental data accompanying the paper of A.Koptelov et al on new testing framewor