Time-dependent behavior of adhesively bonded composite–composite beams under flexural loading

Time-dependent behavior is characteristic of adhesively bonded structureswhen put under constant load (creep). In this study, adhesively bonded beam specimens prepared by adhesively bonding two unidirectional carbon fiber laminated beams were subjected to accelerated three-point bending creep tests. A three-point bending test was selected because of its simplicity and the fact that bending stresses tend to develop in structures under load even if not subjected to direct flexural load. The aim of this study is to predict the long-term behavior and to investigate the long-term creep response of the adhesively bonded composite system. The long-term creep behavior was predicted by time–temperature superposition principle (TTSP) and construction of the master curve at a reference temperature.