Experimental Work on Thick Epoxy Adhesive Bonds for Glass-Steel Joints in a Ship

Abstract

Integrating glass as a load bearing part of the structure of a ship requires methods of connecting glass to the ship’s structure which are novel within shipbuilding practices. Adhesive bonding is a suitable method of connecting glass to metal in ships and is typically used to bond window panes to metallic frames, although usually with a flexible adhesive. This paper presents the findings of the evaluation of an epoxy adhesive for structural glass to steel continuous bonds. The epoxy adhesive is chosen for its high strength and load transferring capabilities. To accommodate geometric tolerances on the linear bonding surfaces of the glass and steel substrates, and to reduce strains within the adhesive, the application of a relatively thick layer of adhesive is evaluated. However, as this thickness is significantly larger than the recommendation of the adhesive manufacturer for optimal strength, its consequences on the mechanical performance of the bond need to be investigated. Therefore, tensile tests are performed with standardised dumbbell specimens at various strain rates. Shear tests are also performed with glass-steel double-lap bonded joints, to evaluate the shear strength of the epoxy with a thick layer and various bonding surface preparation methods.