Abstract
In this study, the finite element method is used to analyze the effect of hygrothermal aging of composite on the stress intensity factor variation for the crack repaired with bonded composite patch. The obtained results show that moisture absorption has a negative effect on the repair performance. Indeed, the stress intensity factor increases with an increase in the water absorption in both mode I and mixed mode of crack propagation. The fatigue life of the repaired structures decreases with the increase in water absorption by the composite patch.