Adhesively bonded SLJs have been extensively studied by numerous researchers due to their simplicity and efficiency [47]. One feature associated to this joint configuration is the stress distribution (shear and peel) in the bondline, which is characterized by stress concentrations at the ends of the bondline. Under these conditions, fatigue crack nucleation at one or both ends of the overlap is very likely. Among the different SHM techniques for monitoring structural integrity of adhesively bonded joints, we investigated the BFS technique. In BFS technique, monitoring of structural integrity can be performed using arrays of sensors, thus allowing for the understanding of the BFS distribution in the presence of a crack and during crack propagation.
In the following sections, two case studies of SHM based on BFS technique for SLJ are summarized (details can be found in [28, 46]) and discussed in terms of:
• the finite element analyses to understand BFS behaviour in SLJ,
• the relationship between BFS distribution and crack position during crack propagation,
• the formulation of crack monitoring correlation, and
• the use of an array of strain sensors to capture BFS distribution for experimental verification of SHM technique.
Case 1 refers to a tapered carbon fiber SLJ and case 2 refers to a hybrid aluminum-carbon fiber reinforced polymer SLJ.