Effect of adhesive thickness and overlap on the behavior of composite single-lap joints

Abstract

The effect of adhesive thickness and adherent overlap on behavior of composite single-lap joints (SLJ) under tensile load is studied by using a 3D finite-element model. A bilinear Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) law is used to represent the adhesive behavior and its parameters are determined as a function of adhesive thickness by carrying out Double Cantilever Beam and End-Notched Flexure tests. The performance of SLJ is defined by peak load, maximum shear, and peel stresses. For the range of adhesive thicknesses considered, both maximum shear and peel stresses decrease with increasing adhesive thickness, while they increase with increasing overlap length.

Keywords:

• Adhesive thickness
• overlap length
• cohesive zone model
• finite element model
• experimental test

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by research project DPI2013-42240-R from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain.