Experimental and Numerical Study of the Effect of Patch Shape for Notched Cracked Composite Structure Repaired by Composite Patching

In this study, experimental test and finite element method were used to analyze the performance of a composite patch glued to a notched and cracked composite plate. The aim of the parametric study was to clarify the influence of the geometrical properties (Total shape and U shape) and the mechanical properties of the composite patch on the repair efficiency. After the tests, the results in the experimental study showed that the patch total shape gives better values of ultimate strength and resists well the traction stress compared to the patch semicircular shape. As for the numerical part related to crack repair by patch, the results obtained by the ABABQUS program also showed that the total shape and boron/epoxy type is the best because it gives lower values for the stress intensity factor (SIF) and for the damaged zone ratio (DR). We can deduce that boron/epoxy patch for repairing notched composite plates gave the best performance.