A stress analysis of strength estimation of stepped lap adhesive joints under static and impact tensile loadings

The stress variations and stress distributions in stepped-lap adhesive joints of dissimilar adherends under impact tensile loadings were analyzed in elastic range using three-dimensional finite element method. The impact loadings were applied to the lower adherend by dropping a weight. The stress distributions in stepped-lap adhesive joints of dissimilar adherends under static tensile loadings were also analyzed using FEM. The effects of Young's modulus of the adherends, the adhesive thickness and the number of butted steps of adherents ware examined under both impact and static loadings. As the results, The maximum value of stress a I increased as Young's modulus of the adherends increased for the impact loadings. The maximum value of stress a I increased as the numbers of steps in the adherends increased for the static loadings. In addition, the experiments to measure the strain response of joints subjected to impact tensile loadings were carried out using strain gauges. A fairly good agreement was found between the numerical and the measured results concerning the strain responses.