Effect of reparation on the mechanical behavior of glass fibers/Elium acrylic laminate composites: Experimental and numerical approaches

Abstract Elium® Acrylic/Glass Fiber thermoplastic laminate composites are liable to develop irreversible local defects under quasi‐static loading. To reinforce the damaged material, repair is a cost‐effective mechanical alternative. The present study investigates the tensile behavior of an Elium® glass‐fiber‐based acrylic laminate composite panel, repaired by vacuum bonding with Elium® repair resin and double overlap of external patches (DP). The results obtained for all repaired laminate composites E190/GFD (10, 20, 30) R with diameters 10, 20, and 30 mm showed an improvement in the mechanical properties of the repaired panels, compared with the drilled and pristine samples. Average load recovery rates were significant for E190/GFD10R (7. 9%, 3. 55%, 13%) E190/GFD20R (23%, 18%, 3. 32%), E190/GFD30R (7. 2%, 9. 36%, 32. 37%) at strain rates of 0. 001, 0. 01, and 0. 05 s −1 respectively. Finite element (FE) models for the virgin, drilled, and repaired composite, performed by coupling the Hashin criteria with the cohesive zone model (CZM), provided a relevant prediction of intra‐ and interlaminar failures of these woven laminated composites. Highlights The effect of vacuum bonding repair with Elium E351 EOT resin was studied. Symmetrical repair of acrylic laminate drilled by fiberglass patches. Tensile strength of the repaired laminates was investigated. Intra‐ and interlaminar damage was predicted by finite elements modeling.