5 DETERMINATION OF EPOXY RESIN’S MECHANICAL PROPERTIES BY EXPERIMENTAL-COMPUTATIONAL PROCEDURES IN TENSION

The use of epoxy resins in metal structures for adhesive reasons is getting wider. Epoxy resins possess enhanced mechanical, chemical and physical properties, i.e. increased shear and compression strength, resistance in solvents, as well as at high temperatures. Tensile tests were carried out with standard aluminium tension specimens glued with epoxy resins. The thickness of the glue and the acting cross-section area were variable. The specimens were cemented under constant temperature and humidity conditions. The experimental results were simulated with the aid of FEM-based procedures, while the stress–strain curves of the epoxy resins, as obtained by nanoindentations and corresponding FEM-supported algorithm, were taken into account. The obtained results allow the determination of the epoxy resins ’ strength versus its thickness and the occupying cross-section area