Singular stress behavior at an adhesive interface corner

Abstract

The singular stress behavior at a bimaterial wedge corner was studied analytically using the Williams' Airy stress function approach. In addition, the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the Finite Element Iterative Method (FEIM) were used to investigate the asymptotic field in adhesive butt joints of various geometries. In particular, the singular power λ and the geometry of the singular stress zones in the joints were analyzed as a function of the elastic properties of the bonded materials. It was found that the singular power λ and the singular zone geometry at the interface corners in the joints are strongly dependent on the elastic properties of the adhesive and adherend. Moreover, the numerical results of the singular powers obtained from the FEIM analysis showed excellent agreement with previously published analytical data.