Surface Topography Influences on the Fatigue Behavior of Composite Joints

The surface condition of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) substrates is decisive to obtain high bond strength and lifetime of adhesively bonded parts. Those surfaces were adjusted in terms of their microscopic topography by means of peel plies and release foils. The subsequent surface treatment via atmospheric pressure plasma jet or vacuum blasting allowed the modification of the microscopic roughness as well as the surface chemistry. Those configuration were assessed using surface analytic methods as well as quasi-static and cyclic fracture tests on single lap shear specimens. The microscopic surface roughness, if at all, only showed a small influence on the bond strength. Despite release agent residues, fracture was found within the fiber-matrix interface, which caused difficulties in evaluating the effect of surface pretreatments on the adhesion strength. Fatigue tests revealed a lifetime reduction of uneven microscopic rough surfaces, which was assigned to stress concentrations at the tip of asperities. The crack propagation was accelerated in case of release agent residues. If surfaces were free of contaminations, no differences between microscopically smooth and slightly structured surfaces were found. Overall, fatigue testing on single lap shear specimens showed an increased sensitivity with regard to the assessment of surface morphology.