Performance of Adhesive Joints Programme Project PAJ1- Failure Criteria and their Application to Visco-Elastic/Visco-Plastic Materials

Project PAJ1 Failure Criteria and their Application to Visco-Elastic/Visco-Plastic Materials was one of three technical projects in the Materials Measurement programme Performance of Adhesive Joints (1996-1999). This report summarises the achievements of the project made in the four technical tasks. 1. Viscosity measurements for visco-elastic materials; 2. Tack; 3. Failure criteria under tensile and shear loading; 4. Failure criteria. The project has generated new or improved test methods for measuring the process and mechanical properties for flexible adhesives. Greater understanding has been developed about the measurement of tack and the modelling of flexible adhesives usin