Scarf Joints of Composite Materials: Testing and Analysis

The objective of this study is to develop a reliable computational model in order to investigate joint strengths of scarf joint configurations constructed from carbon-fiber and glass-fiber woven fabric laminates with different material combinations like glass/glass, glass/carbon, carbon/glass, and carbon/carbon under various loading conditions such as axial, bending moment and shear loading. Both experimental and computational studies are conducted. For the experimental study, specimens made of hybrid scarf joints using carbon-fiber and glass-fiber woven fabrics are tested under compressive loadings to determine their joint failure strengths. Computational models are then developed using the discrete resin layer model along with fracture mechanics and virtual crack closure techniques. The numerical models are validated against the experimental data. The validate models are used to predict the joint strengths under different loading conditions such as axial, shear, and bending moment loadings.