Effect of surface preparation on the strength of FRP-to-mild steel and FRP-to-stainless steel joints

A detailed understanding of the strength and behaviour of the bond between fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites to metals is an ongoing field of research. The many different geometrical and material parameters make for extensive research demands. This paper in turn reports a series of tests on the shear strength and behaviour of FRP-to metal joints in which the main test parameters, which have received limited attention to date, consists of (i) type of metal (i.e. non-galvanised mild steel and stainless steel), and (ii) surface preparation technique (i.e. different mechanical abrasion methods). All specimens are loaded in displacement control which enables the failure process to be followed and identification of different failure modes to be made. The results enable the effectiveness of different surface preparation techniques upon the bond of FRP to different types of metals to be made.