Effects of temperature and loading rate on the shear performance of GFRP-steel single-lap joints

This research examines how the shear properties of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) and steel single-lap joints react under various temperatures (-25, 0, 25, 50, and 100 degrees C) and loading speeds (0.625, 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 m/s). The GFRP sheets, aligned unidirectionally, were produced using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding and were then adhesively attached to steel plates with epoxy resin. The assemblies were subjected to a high-speed servo-hydraulic testing apparatus for evaluation. The results indicate that the joint's performance is relatively unaffected by changes in the loading speed, but the overall toughness tends to decrease at higher speeds. However, the adhesive bond strength increases when temperatures are between -25 and 50 degrees C but diminishes as temperatures rise from 50 to 100 degrees C. Most samples exhibited debonding at the steel-adhesive interface under varied speeds and colder temperatures, whereas debonding at the GFRP-adhesive interface was more prevalent at elevated temperatures. These insights are vital for both theoretical analyses and practical implementations of GFRP-steel single-lap joints in environments subject to extreme loading conditions and temperatures.