• Composites Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.51-58
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• 2003

Since the reliability of adhesively bonded joints is much dependent on the curing status of thermosetting adhesive, the on-line cure monitoring during the cure of adhesively joints could improve the quality of adhesively bonded joints. In this work, the dielectric method which measures the dissipation factor of the adhesive during the cure of joints and converts it into the degree of cure of the adhesive was devised. The relation between the dissipation factor and the degree of cure of adhesive was investigated, which could eliminate the temperature effect on the dissipation factor that is a strong function of the degree of cure and temperature of adhesive. From the investigation, it was found that the dissipation factor showed a trend similar to the cure rate of the adhesive.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.1388-1397
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• 2003

Since the reliability of adhesively bonded joints for composite structures is dependent on many parameters such as the shape and dimensions of joints, type of applied load, and environment, so an accurate estimation of the fatigue life of adhesively bonded joints is seldom possible, which necessitates an in-situ reliability monitoring of the joints during the operation of structures. In this study, a self-sensor method for adhesively bonded joints was devised, in which the adhesive used works as a piezoelectric material to send changing signals depending on the integrity of the joint. From the investigation, it was found that the electric charge increased gradually as cracks initiated and propagated in the adhesive layer, and had its maximum value when the adhesively bonded joint failed. So it is feasible to monitor the integrity of the joint during its lifetime. Finally, a relationship between the piezoelectric property of the adhesive and crack propagation was obtained from the experimental results.