Prediction of moisture diffusion and failure in glass/steel adhesive joints

Abstract Glass/steel adhesive joints are being used increasingly in the construction industry as they offer significant structural advantages over conventional mechanical fastener approaches. However, also known to be sensitive moisture diffusion into bondline, which reduces interfacial bonding strength for hybrid glass/steel substrates. The effect of on performance degradation has been successfully predicted assuming property but requires experimental determination affected ingress zone. This study utilizes a multi-physics numerical approach implemented via commercial finite element code Abaqus 2020, firstly simulates adhesive/glass interface and subsequently couples effects with cohesive zone modelling damage initiation propagation. predictions calibrated against data Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) specimens, bonded ductile methacrylate (Araldite 2047–1). is then validated response large double lap shear significantly different bondline geometry. It demonstrated that model predicts critical exposure time partial complete joint enabling development engineering guidelines life-time prediction various geometries.