Investigation on interfacial bonding strength between aluminum hub and CFRP bonded joints exposed to accelerated aging conditions

Marine propellers are frequently exposed to the corrosive effects of seawater, which can significantly reduce their performance and durability. As a result, high corrosion-resistant materials are used in the fabrication of the propellers. Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) have recently taken over as the material of choice when it comes to creating corrosion-resistant structure. To get the desired mechanical properties and performance, it is necessary to combine FRP composites with other materials, such as steel or aluminum. The present work deals with evaluating the bond strength between Aluminum hub and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) propeller blade profile. Araldite 2011 adhesive was used to establish the bond between the aluminum hub and CFRP propeller blade profile. A universal testing machine(UTM) was used to evaluate the bond strength of CFRP propeller blade profile-Al hub bonded joint specimens. The Al hub and CFRP propeller blade profile were subjected to axial thrust conditions. The surface interaction values obtained from the experiments were given as input data in Finite Element (FE)-model for complex geometry. The von-Mises stress criterion was used to assess the bond strength between Al hub and CFRP blade profile. In addition, bonded joint specimens were also subjected to cyclic aging at intervals of 0, 30, 60, and 90 days, respectively. The cyclic aged specimens were mechanically characterized using UTM. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)spectrum was used to analyze the aging behavior of adhesive (Araldite 2011), and the surface of the fractured specimens was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The extended aging period affects the Al hub/adhesive interface in bonded joints, leading to lower load joint failure.