A maximum stress at a distance criterion for the prediction of crack propagation in adhesively-bonded joints

The present work relates to the numerical prediction of the mode I failure of metal-to-metal adhesive joints under quasi-static, steady-state conditions by means of a criterion based on attaining a critical value of the maximum principal stress at a critical distance ahead of the crack tip. The model accurately predicts the failure of three adhesives (i) over a wide range of the thickness of the adhesive layer from 0.1 to 1 mm, and (ii) for two very different test geometries: namely the linear elastic fracture-mechanics tapered double-cantilever beam test and the elastic–plastic fracture-mechanics wedge-peel test.