Bonded composite repair has been recognized as an efficient and economical method to extend the service life of cracked aluminum components. An accurate tool for investigating the stress intensity factor in the cracked alu- minum structure after repair is needed. The use of three-dimensional finite elements is computationally expensive. A simple analysis method using Mindlin plate theory is presented. Specifically, the aluminum plate and composite patch are modeled separately by the Mindlin plate finite element, whereas the adhesive layer is modeled with effective springs connecting the patch and aluminum plate. Constraint equations are used to enforce compatibility of the patch-adhesive and adhesive-aluminum plate interfaces.
展开▼
