An Out-of-plane Loaded Double Cantilever Beam (ODCB) test to measure the critical energy release rate in mode III of adhesive joints

A novel fracture mechanical test for adhesive joints subjected to pure mode III loading is presented. The experiment uses a modified double cantilever beam specimen, which is loaded out of the plane of crack propagation. The paper presents and discusses first experimental results, applying the new test method on adhesively bonded joints of an elastic-plastic structural adhesive. The tests have been performed under quasi-static load conditions....