Unified constitutive model for thermoset adhesive, FM73

This paper discusses the use of a unified constitutive model to predict the behaviour of a thermoset adhesive, FM73. This adhesive is widely used in the bonded repair of aircraft structures. The results presented in this paper include monotonic and cyclic tests conducted at room temperature. The time-dependent properties of this film adhesive are significant even at room temperature. Considerable stress relaxation was observed during strain hold experiments. The adhesive was also found to creep when the load was held constant. The monotonic shear stress-strain behaviour, time-dependent characteristics and cyclic behaviour of the adhesive can be adequately described using a unified constitutive model.