The impact damage and residual load capacity of composite stepped bonding repairs and joints

Step topology adhesively bonded structure is preferable applied in composite repairs and joints of primary load-bearing structure. The failure mechanism and responses under low velocity impact are still not expressly revealed. A series of experiments for impact are conducted. Responses of impact contact load, deflection, absorbed energy and speed were tested. A critical impact energy of adhesive damage and residual strength was found. Above the...