An equivalent cohesive zone model for a wide range of ductile and brittle adhesives

Abstract

This paper aims to propose an equivalent trapezoidal traction–separation law (ET‐TSL) of the cohesive zone model applicable to a wide range of ductile and brittle adhesives using equivalent and fictitious material concepts. The ET‐TSL can reduce the analysis time and cost of complex problems without degrading the prediction accuracy. To experimentally validate the proposed ET‐TSL, double‐cantilever beam (DCB) samples were fabricated with glass fiber‐reinforced polymer substrates and a highly ductile adhesive and then tested. The fracture behavior of the specimens was modeled using the proposed ET‐TSL. Moreover, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the proposed model were verified by employing the proposed ET‐TSL for different adhesive joints made of different adhesives ranging from brittle to ductile adhesives and different substrates found in the literature. It was found that the proposed ET‐TSL can provide reasonable accuracy in simulating the fracture response of different types of adhesive joints with brittle and ductile adhesives.