Composite fibre patching techniques are being considered as alternatives to traditional methods of strengthening and fatigue crack repair in steel structures. As a step towards the development of effective patching techniques, this investigation focused on the flow of load through a cracked steel plate repaired with a bonded patch.; An experimental program measured strain distributions and bond strength of joints between carbon fibre/epoxy composite patches and steel tabs. A numerical model was developed to further the strain distribution study, and to study the effects of patch geometry and material properties on joint behaviour. A second experimental program studied the strain distributions in ten 6.35 mm steel plates with internal cracks, nine of which were repaired with carbon fibre/epoxy composite patches. A three-dimensional, elastic finite element model of the test plates was also developed. Experimental and numerical results were used to determine patterns of stress flow, and to study the effects of patch size, stiffness and edge conditions on strain distributions at the crack tip and the patch edge. Guidelines for patch design were developed and a case study was considered to illustrate their application.
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