Finite Element Analysis of an Adhesive Joint Using the Cohesive Zone Model and Surface Pattern Design of Bonding Surfaces

Adhesive joints have been widely used in the automotive and aerospace fields in order to reduce the weights of products. The strength of adhesive joints, accordingly, needs to be increased and their behaviour should be predicted in order to achieve accurate designs. Studies to improve the strength of adhesive joints via surface treatment methods or by using two adhesives with different mechanical properties have been conducted. Various modeling methods also have been studied to predict the behaviour of adhesive joints. Unfortunately, the relationship between the bonding surface roughness and adhesive joint strength needs to be further clarified in order to be applied in practical design. As analyzing the relationship through a conventional finite element method assuming perfect bonding is challenging, the behaviour of the adhesive joints may be analyzed using a cohesive zone model or interface modeling methods from an integrating released energy point of view. The strength of adhesive joints can be improved via micro-patterning due to the mechanical interlocking effect. Therefore, in this study, a micro-pattern was fabricated to improve the strength of adhesive joints. Various pattern-sized single leg bending joints and end notched flexure joints were manufactured and experimented upon. In this study, characteristics of each pattern surface were independently classified and modeled with a cohesive zone model. Finite element analyses were then performed and simulation results were compared with experimental results. The numerical results satisfactorily describe the experimental results, and failure loads were predicted with a maximum relative error of 8%. From these results, it may be concluded that the present findings can be applied to practical design and that the failure load can be predicted via a finite element analysis.