Structural integrity assessment of a full-scale adhesively-bonded bi-material joint for maritime applications

The present study proposes a comprehensive integrity assessment approach for full-scale adhesively-bonded bi-material joint maritime applications. represents cross-section of the bond-line connection ship with steel hull and sandwich composite superstructure. consists core adhesively bonded to two U-shaped brackets. was subjected quasi-static loading profile including 6 load cycles up final failure. Each cycle followed by dwell segment holding at maximum displacement 30 s then unloading 50% displacement. Three Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques Acoustic Emission (AE), Fiber Optic Sensor (FOS), Digital Image Correlation (DIC) were employed during test assess damage state joint. Moreover, Finite Element Model (FEM) developed simulate evolution behavior different mechanisms in FE results compared against experimental findings. obtained showed that integration all could successfully detect initiation, severity damage, localize critical regions joint, distinguish mechanisms.