Impact of adverse environmental conditions on the fatigue behavior of carbon epoxy adhesive joints under mode II fracture

Abstract This work analyses how environmental degradation affects the behaviour of adhesive joints in carbon-epoxy composites. These joints, made from a unidirectional carbon fibre-reinforced epoxy matrix and bonded with an epoxy-based adhesive, were tested under mode II fracture static and fatigue...

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Main Authors: Paula Vigón, Jaime Viña, Miguel Lozano, Antonio Argüelles
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12231-z
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author Paula Vigón
Jaime Viña
Miguel Lozano
Antonio Argüelles
author_facet Paula Vigón
Jaime Viña
Miguel Lozano
Antonio Argüelles
author_sort Paula Vigón
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This work analyses how environmental degradation affects the behaviour of adhesive joints in carbon-epoxy composites. These joints, made from a unidirectional carbon fibre-reinforced epoxy matrix and bonded with an epoxy-based adhesive, were tested under mode II fracture static and fatigue loading conditions. The experimental analysis was carried out using the End Notched Flexure (ENF) test method to evaluate both the fatigue initiation phase (G-N curves) and the fatigue crack growth phase (G-da/dN curves). Specimens were subjected to controlled exposure in a salt spray chamber and a climatic chamber (hygrothermal) with different exposure periods: no exposure, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 12 weeks. Fatigue initiation data were analysed using a probabilistic Weibull distribution model. Key findings reveal that environmental degradation significantly reduces the fatigue resistance of the adhesive joints. Under static loading, the load capacity of the adhesive joints decreased by approximately 20% after saline exposure and 25% after hygrothermal exposure. Additionally, fatigue crack growth rates were found to change depending on the type and duration of environmental exposure, underscoring the critical role of environmental conditions on joint behaviour.
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spelling doaj-art-421b32335a6b4093ab4682a8fcd343eb2025-08-20T04:03:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-12231-zImpact of adverse environmental conditions on the fatigue behavior of carbon epoxy adhesive joints under mode II fracturePaula Vigón0Jaime Viña1Miguel Lozano2Antonio Argüelles3Department of Construction and Manufacturing Engineering, University of OviedoDepartment of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, University of OviedoDepartment of Construction and Manufacturing Engineering, University of OviedoDepartment of Construction and Manufacturing Engineering, University of OviedoAbstract This work analyses how environmental degradation affects the behaviour of adhesive joints in carbon-epoxy composites. These joints, made from a unidirectional carbon fibre-reinforced epoxy matrix and bonded with an epoxy-based adhesive, were tested under mode II fracture static and fatigue loading conditions. The experimental analysis was carried out using the End Notched Flexure (ENF) test method to evaluate both the fatigue initiation phase (G-N curves) and the fatigue crack growth phase (G-da/dN curves). Specimens were subjected to controlled exposure in a salt spray chamber and a climatic chamber (hygrothermal) with different exposure periods: no exposure, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 12 weeks. Fatigue initiation data were analysed using a probabilistic Weibull distribution model. Key findings reveal that environmental degradation significantly reduces the fatigue resistance of the adhesive joints. Under static loading, the load capacity of the adhesive joints decreased by approximately 20% after saline exposure and 25% after hygrothermal exposure. Additionally, fatigue crack growth rates were found to change depending on the type and duration of environmental exposure, underscoring the critical role of environmental conditions on joint behaviour.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12231-zCompositesDelaminationAdhesiveFractureFatigueMode II
spellingShingle Paula Vigón
Jaime Viña
Miguel Lozano
Antonio Argüelles
Impact of adverse environmental conditions on the fatigue behavior of carbon epoxy adhesive joints under mode II fracture
Scientific Reports
Composites
Delamination
Adhesive
Fracture
Fatigue
Mode II
title Impact of adverse environmental conditions on the fatigue behavior of carbon epoxy adhesive joints under mode II fracture
title_full Impact of adverse environmental conditions on the fatigue behavior of carbon epoxy adhesive joints under mode II fracture
title_fullStr Impact of adverse environmental conditions on the fatigue behavior of carbon epoxy adhesive joints under mode II fracture
title_full_unstemmed Impact of adverse environmental conditions on the fatigue behavior of carbon epoxy adhesive joints under mode II fracture
title_short Impact of adverse environmental conditions on the fatigue behavior of carbon epoxy adhesive joints under mode II fracture
title_sort impact of adverse environmental conditions on the fatigue behavior of carbon epoxy adhesive joints under mode ii fracture
topic Composites
Delamination
Adhesive
Fracture
Fatigue
Mode II
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12231-z
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