Determination of Minimum Adherend Thickness for Climbing Drum and Floating Roller Adhesive Tests

The Climbing Drum Peel Test ASTM D1718-76 Floating Roller Peel Test ASTM D3167-76 are adhesive joint tests used to determine adhesive strength in honeycomb core tactical shelter panels. The failure modes and geometries of these tests tend to differ from specimen to specimen, however, depending on the ratio of adhesive strength to flexible adherend stiffness. This inconsistency generates peel strength data which cannot be directly compared. Although the problem can be solved by making the flexible adherend very thick so that all failure geometries are alike, the result is a loss in precision in the test results. An analysis of these test methods was performed in order to specify the minimum flexible adherend thicknesses which produce consistent failures. Experiments confirmed these predictions. Parametric studies and experiments indicate that, among the properties examined, glue line thickness and yield strength of the adherend most affect the minimum adherend thickness which can be used. A first order analysis was also conducted in order to correct the results of peel tests which do not fail in a consistent manner i.e., the adherends detach from the test fixture rollers. Climbing drum peel test, Floating roller peel test, Adhesive, Peel strength, Cleavage stress, Flexible adherend, Adherend thickness, Deformation energy.