Mixed-Mode Strength of Thin Adhesive Films: Experimental Characterization through a Tubular Specimen with Reduced Edge Effect

The present work deals with the characterization of adhesives in thin film under uniform and multi-axial loading conditions. The tests are carried out with a tubular butt bonded specimen, previously developed by the authors, which ensures both shear and normal uniform stress fields inside the adhesive layer. Stress analysis is performed analytically and shows that, in addition to the axial stress, both radial and circumferential stress components are present in the adhesive layer due to Poisson's effect. This leads to a high level of stress triaxiality especially when only axial loading is considered. The experimental tests performed on eight different loading modes show that the adhesive behaves better under shear stress rather than under normal tensile stress, and its strength increases under compressive mixed mode loading. Among literature criteria for equivalent stress, the Stassi D'Alia criterion provides a clear equivalent failure stress value for the adhesive here examined, regardless of the stress triaxiality