Mechanical Behaviour of Adhesive Joint under Tensile and Shear Loading

Abstract

SummaryDue to various advantages of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) decks, the FRP to steel composite bridge system is being increasingly used in new bridge structures as well as rehabilitation projects for old bridges. This paper focuses on the mechanical behaviours and failure modes of the adhesively-bonded joins between FRP sandwich decks and steel girders. The adhesively-bonded joints were experimentally investigated under tensile and shear loading. Further comparison on failure modes confirmed that the surface pretreatment can improve the bonding quality between FRP composites and adhesive layer, and correspondingly increase the load-carrying capacity of adhesive joints.