Strength of scarf-bonded CFRP repairs containing disc-shaped zones of weak bonding considering hot-wet conditioning

A commonly used design for the repair of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) is the bonded scarf joint. As contaminations on the adherend surface or bondline flaws can reduce the bonding strength drastically, the effect of such strength reducing phenomena has to be known. This is also the case for bonded joints that had to sustain hot-wet conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of weak bonds and hot-wet conditioning on the mechanical properties of scarf bonded CFRP joints. Circular zones of weak bonding have been artificially produced by application of release agent on the adherend surface. Different sizes and locations were studied. Additionally, two scarf ratios and two lay-ups have been investigated, to account for different stress states in the bondline. The investigation showed that the effect of a weak bond on bond strength is strongly dependent on the location, size and lay-up of the adherend, while hot-wet conditioning reduces the bond strength in all cases.