Analytical determination of adhesive layer deformation for adhesively bonded double cantilever beam test considering elastic–plastic deformation

The plastic zone at the crack front of an adhesively bonded double cantilever beam (DCB) specimen is analytically expressed considering the deformation of the adhesive layer. The plastic zone length and strain during the crack propagation are obtained, and the effect of the traction–separation profile on the DCB test results is investigated. The fracture energy is given by the area under the traction–separation curve and is not affected by the...