Optimization of Reinforcing Patch Effects on Cracked Plates Using Analytical Modeling and Taguchi Design.

Over the past four decades, the use of composite materials for the repair of cracked structural plates with glued patches has been extensively studied. Attention has been focused on determining a mode-I crack opening displacement, which is important in tension load and in preventing the failure of a structure due to small damages. Therefore, the significance of conducting this work is to determine the mode-I crack displacement of the stress intensity factor (SIF) using analytical modeling and an optimization method. In this study, an analytical solution was obtained for an edge crack on a rectangular aluminum plate with single- and double-sided quasi-isotropic reinforcing patches, using linear elastic fracture mechanics and Rose's analytical approach. Additionally, an optimization technique with the Taguchi design was used to define the optimal solution of the SIF from the suitable parameters and levels. As a result, a parametric study was conducted to assess the mitigation of the SIF using analytical modeling, and the same data were used to optimize the results via the Taguchi design. This study successfully determined and optimized the SIF, demonstrating an energy- and cost-efficient approach to address damage control in structures.