Effect of manufacturing methods on the shear strength of composite single-lap bonded joints

The present paper experimentally addresses the effect of manufacturing methods on the strength of composite bonded joints. A total of 391 specimens, manufactured by four different fabrication methods, were tested. For each method, various overlap lengths, adherend thicknesses and lay-up patterns were examined. The failure strength was higher in thicker adherend joints and lower in specimens with larger overlap length. Results showed that the secondary bonded joints had higher strength than the co-bonded and adhesively cocured joints and yielded similar strength compared with the non-adhesive cocured case. Changes in the stacking sequence also affected the interlaminar stresses and failure loads. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.