Testing method to determine the strength and fracture toughness of adhesives in a single continuous test

In this work, a new testing method for adhesive joints under tensile loading is presented. This method comprised three pull-off tests and one peel test in one single loading step, which enables the determination of the strength and fracture toughness of the adhesive. The properties determined can be of the adhesive, if cohesive failure occurs, or of the interface, in the event of adhesive failure. To validate the testing method, the adhesive used was a commercially available silicone, for which strength and fracture toughness had already been determined using standard methods. It was concluded that this method accurately enables the determination of strength and toughness, using one single joint and loading step.