Crack front morphology near the free edges in double and single cantilever beam fracture experiments

We analyse edge effects in two common adhesive joint fracture configurations, namely the single and the double cantilever beam tests. Several experiments were performed studying the crack front vicinity for deflection and crack front morphology using light scanning and microscopy techniques. To understand the findings a finite element model is used to determine the energy release rate at the crack front, particularly in the vicinity of free...