Effect of Adhesive Layer’s Voids on Stress Distribution of Adhesively Bonded Joints

Abstract

The stress distribution of adhesively-bonded single lap joints under tensile shear loading is analyzed using 2-dimensional elastic-plastic finite element method (FEM). Special attentions have been put on the influence of void in adhesive on the stress distribution of adhesively-bonded joints. The results show that the stress concentration of the void is less than that of the end part of the joints when adhesive layer’s deformation was in the range of elastic. Moreover, the influence of the void on the stress distribution becomes less when the void moving from the end-part to the middle. The stress concentration becomes larger and the stress distribution of adhesive’s mid-thickness region becomes flatter when adhesive layer has biggish plastic deformation. Finite element results show an agreement with the theoretical results.