A state-of-the-art review on adhesively bonded joints of similar and dissimilar materials

Abstract

In recent years, adhesive bonding has increasingly been used in many applications as it has many advantages over traditional joining techniques. More uniform stress distribution, absence of damage in the adhesive-bonded parts, high fatigue resistance, ease of manufacture, capability of fluid sealing, and the possibility of joining dissimilar materials are the advantages of adhesive bonding. This paper reviews the current research, advancements in adhesively bonded single lap joints (SLJs) and the related issues for joining different materials. The influence of various factors such as loading direction joint geometry, type of adhesive, type of adherend, joining technique, surface preparation technique, and environmental conditions on the bond properties of the adhesively bonded joints are also discussed. Different failure mechanisms associated with adhesive bonding are also highlighted. The geometry and method of manufacturing, surface preparation, and curing conditions significantly influence the strength of adhesively bonded joints. The combined surface treatment substantially affects the mode of failure in the adhesive joints. Among the different numerical methods, the cohesive zone modelling (CZM) approach can forecast the adhesive strength of joints for a wide range of designs with minimal error. Advanced numerical methodologies, such as the eXtended finite element method (XFEM) or meshless methods, have been utilized for adhesive joint analysis; however, further enhancements are requisite for their broader adoption.