In this study, the fracture characteristics of structural adhesives were investigated according to the shape of a DCB and TDCB by using the FEM. First, to obtain the reliability of the finite element method, the experimental and FEM analyses were compared, and the reliability was secured. When the graph of reaction force to displacement on the TDCB test specimen was examined, it was found that the smaller the slope, the stronger the exhibited property sustaining the load to the end of the adhesive surface. Maximum reaction force occurred was just before the adhesive was removed. The shear stress of the specimen exhibited the same characteristics and an equivalent stress. Thus, the data of this study resulting in the fracture characteristics of the structural adhesives for each shape can be applied to the design with durability.

This study focuses on these issues and includes the static fracture experiments with two forms of specimens; aluminum foam DCB and TDCB bonded with the type of mode III, a simulation static analysis to verify this experiment, and analysis of fracture behavior of adhesive interface of structures attached with aluminum foam by shape and thickness. The thickness of DCB and TDCB specimens designed in this study are set as variable t, and each thickness is t = 35 mm, 45 mm, 55 mm. According to forced displacements, the maximum reaction forces of DCB specimens due to thickness were approximately 0.35 kN, 0.45 kN, 0.54 kN, and the maximum reaction force of TDCB were approximately 0.4 kN, 0.52 kN, and 0.63 kN respectively. We expect the data according to variables to be easily investigated without a separate testing process, and effective analysis of the mechanical characteristics of aluminum foam DCB and TDCB.