Finite Element Stress Response Analysis of Stepped-Lap Adhesive Joints of Similar Adherends Under Impact Tensile Loadings

Abstract

The stress variations and stress distributions in stepped-lap adhesive joints of similar adherends under impact tensile loadings were analyzed in elastic range using three-dimensional finite element method (DYNA3D). The impact loadings were applied to the lower adherend by dropping a weight. The stress distributions in stepped-lap adhesive joints of similar adherends under static tensile loadings were also analyzed using FEM (MARC). The effects of Young’s modulus of the adherends, the adhesive thickness, and a number of steps in the adherends on the stress variations and the stress distributions at the interfaces between the adherends and the adhesive were examined under both impact and static loadings. As the results, it was found that (1) the maximum value of the maximum principal stress σ1 occured at the outside edge of the butted interface between the adhesive and the lower adherend to which impact loadings were applied; (2) The maximum value of stress σ1 increased as Young’s modulus of the adherends increased; (3) The maximum value of stress σ1 increased as the adhesive thickness decreased, and it increased at the butted parts of joints as the adhesive thickness decreased. The maximum value of stress σ1 increased at the lapped parts of joints as the adhesive thickness increased; (4) The maximum value of stress σ1 increased as the numbers of steps in the adherends increased. The characteristic of the joints under static loadings were also clarified. 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.