BOND BEHAVIOUR BETWEEN UHM CFRP PLATE AND STEEL

PLATE UNDER FATIGUE LOADING

Chao Wu
PhD student
Department of Civil Engineering
Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
chao.wu@monash.edu
Xiao Ling Zhao
Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
(National 1000-talent Chair Professor at Tsinghua University)
ZXL@monash.edu*
Wing Kong Chiu
Professor
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
Wing.Kong.Chiu@monash.edu
Riadh Al-Mahaidi
Professor
Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences
Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
ralmahaidi@groupwise.swin.edu.au
Wen Hui Duan
Lecture
Department of Civil Engineering
Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
wenhui.duan@monash.edu

Abstract
The fatigue effect on the bond behaviour between ultra high modulus (UHM) CFRP plate and
steel plate is investigated in this paper. A series of tests on CFRP-steel double strap joints
(DSJ) was conducted. Five specimens were tensioned to failure under static loading as
control specimens. The other twelve specimens were tested under fatigue loading with load
ratios ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 (defined as the ratio of the maximum load in the fatigue test to
the average static bond strength of control specimens). After a certain number of fatigue
cycles, five specimens failed during fatigue loading and the other seven specimens survived.
For specimens failed during fatigue loading, a linear logarithm relationship between the
fatigue life and load ratio was achieved. Surviving specimens were later tensioned to failure
under static loading. The failure modes and residual strength of surviving specimens were
compared with those of control specimens. It was found that the failure modes and residual
bond strength of double strap joints were little affected by the fatigue loading.
Keywords: UHM CFRP plate, steel plate, bond, fatigue

Page 1 of 8

1. INTRODUCTION
CFRP-bonded steel systems have attracted increasing research interest [1-6] in recent years,
especially as new CFRP products with improved mechanical properties have become
commercially available. One promising possibility is to improve the fatigue performance of
steel structures by the use of externally-bonded CFRP composites [7-11]. The fatigue loading
can be shared by CFRP attachment through structural adhesives, so that the fatigue behaviour
of the structures can be improved [10, 12]. Recently, a CFRP plate with a nominal modulus of
460 GPa is available [13]. This means that more fatigue loading can possibly be taken by this
ultra high modulus (UHM) CFRP plate. However, before the new system is used for the
fatigue strengthening of steel structures, it is desirable to investigate the bond behaviour
between this UHM CFRP plate and steel under fatigue loading.
There has been limited research on the bond behaviour between CFRP and steel [14, 15].
Although the static bond behaviour between this UHM CFRP plate and steel has been
investigated by the present authors [13], the effect of fatigue loading on the bond needs
further investigation. The effect of fatigue loading on the bond behaviour between CFRP
sheeting and steel has been studied by Liu et al. [14]. CFRP sheet-steel plate double strap
joints were prepared with both normal modulus (E=240 GPa) and high modulus (E=640 GPa)
CFRP sheets. It was found that the failure modes were not affected greatly by the fatigue
loading, with the exception of those bonded with high modulus CFRP sheets. The bond
strength of high modulus CFRP-sheet bonded steel plates was also not greatly affected by the
fatigue loading. On the other hand, a reduction in bond strength of up to 20% was observed
for normal modulus CFRP sheet bonded steel plates.
This paper aims to report the preliminary results of a study of the effect of fatigue loading on
the bond behaviour between UHM CFRP plate and steel. This is part of a large research
program at Monash University concerning fatigue strengthening with UHM CFRP plate. In
this paper, the experimental results of a series of double strap joints (DSJs) are reported. DSJs
were tensioned up to 90 kN under static loading before they endured fatigue loading with
various load ratios. The load ratio is defined as the ratio between the maximum fatigue
loading and the average bond strength of the DSJ under static loading. The specimens which
survived the fatigue loading were then tensioned to failure, and the bond behaviour before
and after the fatigue loading were then compared. In this way the effect of fatigue load on
bond between UHM CFRP plate and steel could be obtained.

2. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMME
2.1 Material Properties
The same CFRP material as reported in [13] was adopted. It is an ultra high modulus (UHM)
plate with a nominal elastic modulus of 460 GPa and a nominal tensile strength of 1500 MPa.
The UHM CFRP plate has a fibre content of 71% and its measured thickness is 1.45mm. The
steel plates are hot-rolled structural steel HA300. They have a nominal yield stress of 300
MPa. The steel plates have the dimensions of 300 mm length, 50 mm width and 10 mm
thickness. The bonding material is the same two-part adhesive as that used by Fawzia [16].
The manufacturer-supplied material properties of the CFRP plate, steel plate and adhesive are
listed in Table 1.

Page 2 of 8

Table 1. Material properties of CFRP plate, steel plate and adhesive

MATERIAL PROPERTIES

CFRP

STEEL

ADHESIVE AS REPORTED IN [16]

Tensile strength (MPa)

1500

400 minimum

28.6

Yield strength

(MPa)

N/A

300 minimum

N/A

Tensile modulus (GPa)

460

200

1.90

Elongation at break (%)

0.3~0.4

N/A

N/A

2.2 Specimen Preparation and Test Set-Up

The schematic view of the DSJ is shown in Fig 1. Firstly, the surfaces of the steel plates were
sand-blasted. The surfaces were then cleaned with acetone immediately before the adhesive
application. Two steel plates were aligned in position, after which a thin coat of adhesive was
applied uniformly on the steel surfaces. The whole specimen was then cured at room
temperature for at least one week. Strain gauges G1~G4 were attached on the surface of the
CFRP plate at 12.5 mm spacing (Fig. 1). Strain gauge G5 was placed on the other side of CFRP
plate and strain gauges G6 and G7 on the steel plate were used for back-up readings.

(a) Plan view

(b) Side view

Fig. 1. Schematic view of DSJ (not to scale)

3. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
Seventeen DSJ specimens are listed in Table 2. Firstly, control specimens, DC-1~DC-5, were
tensioned to failure under static loading on a Shimadzhu 300 kN capacity machine. The
loading speed was 1 mm/min. The average bond strength of the control specimens is defined
as Fc. An MTS laser extensometer was used to monitor the total relative slip between the
UHM CFRP plate and the steel plate within the 60 mm bond length. The strain gauge
readings were recorded by the data log system mounted on the Shimadzhu machine.
The other twelve specimens were first subjected to a static loading of up to 90 kN (the
maximum fatigue loading in the following discussions). The instrumentation and test set-up
were the same as those for the control specimens. The purpose was to record their static
behaviour (load-extension, load-slip, etc.) before the fatigue tests. The twelve specimens were
then put on the MTS fatigue hydraulic frame and tested under various fatigue load ranges
(Pmax-Pmin= P) (Table 2). The load ratio is defined as Pmax/Fc. The stress ratio is defined as
the ratio between the minimum fatigue loading and maximum fatigue loading (Pmin/Pmax).
Page 3 of 8

During the fatigue tests, some specimens failed and their fatigue lives (Nlife) were recorded.
Their bond strengths were recorded as zero. Those specimens that survived the fatigue
loading were removed from the MTS fatigue hydraulic frame and statically tensioned to
failure on the Shimadzhu machine. The bond strength of these specimens is named Ff.
Table 2. Specimens and loading scheme
BOND
STRENGTH
Fc or Ff (kN)

FATIGUE LOAD RANGE

Pmax-Pmin= P (kN)

LOAD RATIO
Pmax/Fc

STRESS RATIO
Pmin/Pmax

DC-1

Control specimen

N/A

N/A

147.86

DC-2

Control specimen

N/A

N/A

145.48

DC-3

Control specimen

N/A

N/A

145.03

N/A

146.10

N/A

138.58

0.1

5000000

165.35

0.1

10000000

147.42
0

SPECIMENS

DC-4
DC-5
DF-0.2-1
DF-0.3-1

Control specimen
Control specimen
3.0~30
4.5~45

N/A
N/A
0.21
0.31

FATIGUE
CYCLES

DF-0.4-1

6.0~60

0.41

0.1

2627110

DF-0.4-2

6.0~60

0.41

0.1

2789158

DF-0.4-3

6.0~60

0.41

0.1

1000000

152.62

DF-0.4-4

6.0~60

0.41

0.1

1000000

149.56

0.1

1500000

141.76
0

DF-0.4-5

6.0~60

0.41

DF-0.5-1

7.25~72.5

0.50

0.1

338305

DF-0.5-2

7.25~72.5

0.50

0.1

150000

139.01

0.1

226460

0
0
138.43

DF-0.6-1

9.0~90

0.62

DF-0.6-2

9.0~90

0.62

0.1

185427

DF-0.6-3

9.0~90

0.62

0.1

50000

4. FAILURE MODES
In the current study, CFRP delamination was observed for all the specimens [1]. The
comparison of failure modes between control specimens, specimens failed during fatigue
loading and specimens which survived fatigue loading is given in Fig. 2. It seems from visual
inspection that the fatigue loading has limited influence on the failure modes.

(a) DC-4
(b) DF-0.4-2
(c) DF-0.2-1
Fig. 2. Typical failure modes of DSJ: (a) control specimen; (b) specimen which failed during fatigue; (c)
specimen which survived fatigue

Page 4 of 8

5. RESIDUAL BOND STRENGTH

For specimens which survived the fatigue loading, the residue bond strengths, Ff, are listed in
Table 3. Compared to the control specimens, which were only subjected to static loading, the
bond strength ratio, Ff/Fc, reflects the effect of fatigue loading on the bond behaviour of the
DSJs. From Table 3 it appears that the residual bond strength (Ff) decreases when a higher
fatigue load ratio (Pmax/Fc) is applied. However, the maximum reduction is only 4.27% (DF0.6-3), indicating that the fatigue load ratio has very limited effect on the residual bond
strength.
Table 3. Test results of specimens which survived fatigue loading
SPECIMENS

FATIGUE LOAD
RANGE
P (kN)

LOAD
RATIO
Pmax/Fc

DF-0.2-1

3.0~30

0.21

DF-0.3-1

4.5~45

DF-0.4-3

6.0~60

DF-0.4-4

CYCLES BEFORE
STATIC TESTS
Npre

RESIDUE BOND
STRENGTH
Ff (kN)

BOND STRENGTH
RATIO
Ff /Fc (x100%)

5000000

165.35

114.34

0.31

10000000

147.42

101.94

0.41

1000000

152.62

105.54

6.0~60

0.41

1000000

149.56

103.42

DF-0.4-5

6.0~60

0.41

1500000

141.76

98.03

DF-0.5-2

7.25~72.5

0.50

150000

139.01

96.13

DF-0.6-3

9.0~90

0.62

50000

138.43

95.73

6. FATIGUE LIFE OF DSJ WITH 60 MM BOND LENGTH

For specimens which failed during fatigue loading, the number of fatigue cycles was recorded
and is defined as their fatigue life Nlife (Table 4). The relationship between the fatigue load
range P and the fatigue life (Table 2) is plotted in Fig. 3 in logarithmic units. A linear
relationship is observed in Fig. 3. This indicates that, for UHM CFRP-steel DSJ with 60 mm
bond length, the fatigue limit is no less than 40.5 kN. Since the fatigue life of CFRP-steel
double strap joints is not the focus of this paper, more experimental work on DSJs with
various bond lengths is suggested for future studies.
Table 4. Fatigue life of specimens failed during fatigue loading
SPECIMENS
DF-0.2-1
DF-0.3-1
DF-0.4-1
DF-0.4-2
DF-0.5-1
DF-0.6-1
DF-0.6-2

FATIGUE LOAD RANGE

P (kN)

LOAD RATIO
Pmax/Fc

3.0~30
4.5~45
6.0~60
6.0~60
7.25~72.5
9.0~90
9.0~90

0.21
0.31
0.41
0.41
0.50
0.62
0.62

Page 5 of 8

Fatigue life
Nlife (cycles)

>5000000
>10000000
2627110
2789158
338305
226460
185427

Figure 3. S-N curve of UHM CFRP-steel DSJ with 60 mm bond length

7. CONCLUSIONS
In this paper, the effect of fatigue loading on the bond behaviour between UHM CFRP plate
and steel plate is investigated. Seventeen DSJ were prepared and tested. The static bond
strength was achieved from control specimens which were tensioned to failure. Fatigue
loading, with load ratios (the ratio between maximum fatigue load and average bond strength
of control specimens) ranging from 0.2 to 0.6, was applied to other DSJs. Surviving
specimens were then tensioned to failure under static loading. Therefore, the static bond
behaviours, including failure modes and bond strength, before and after fatigue loading can
be compared. The following conclusions can be drawn, based on the experimental
observations:
The same failure mode of CFRP delamination is observed from visual inspection for all
specimens, including control specimens, specimens which failed during fatigue loading
and specimens which survived fatigue loading.
A decreasing trend is found for the bond strength when the load ratio increases. However,
the reduction of bond strength is not great. The maximum reduction is less than 4.27%
compared to the control specimens.
From the study of residual bond strength and residual bond stiffness, it can be concluded
that the fatigue loading has very limited effect on the bond behaviour of UHM CFRP
plate-steel plate DSJ.
A linear relationship is observed between the fatigue load range and fatigue life for
specimens which failed during fatigue loading, in logarithm units. The fatigue limit is no
less than 40.5 kN for UHM CFRP plate-steel plate DSJ with a bond length of 60 mm.
However, more fatigue tests are needed on DSJ with various bond lengths.
More investigation of the experimental results is being conducted using microscopic
examination of the fracture surface of each specimen. Further experimental results are
expected to be provided in future publications.

Page 6 of 8

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Australian
Research Council through an ARC Discovery Grant. The authors also wish to thank Mr
Kevin Nievaart and Mr Long Goh in the Civil Engineering Laboratory at Monash University
for their assistance of carrying out all the tests.

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