Stress Analysis and Strength Evaluation of Single-Lap Adhesive Joints Combining Rivets Subjected to External Bending Moments

Abstract

Abstract Stress analysis and strength evaluation of single-lap adhesive joints combining rivets subjected to external bending moments are conducted by three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA). In this analysis, the effects of the ratio of Young’s moduli of the rivets to that of the adherends, the initial tightening force produced in the rivets, the adhesive layers between the rivet heads and the adherends, and the positions of the rivets on the stress distributions at the interfaces between the adherends and the adhesives are examined. The rupture process of the single-lap adhesive joint combining rivets is demonstrated. The strength of single-lap adhesive joints combining rivets is evaluated by the maximum principal strain criterion using the maximum principal strain at the adhesive interfaces. The FEA results show that the failure of single-lap adhesive joints and single-lap adhesive joints combining rivets with thinner adherends are due to large elasto-plastic deformation of the adherends. For single-lap adhesive joints of thick adherends, the rupture is initiated from the edge of the adhesive interface. Experiments to measure the strength of single-lap adhesive joints, single-lap riveted joint and single-lap adhesive joints combining rivets were carried out. The failure types of single-lap adhesive joints and single-lap adhesive joints combining rivets obtained from the experiments coincide with the FEA results. The experimental results also show that the failure of single-lap riveted joints with thinner adherends is due to large plastic deformation of the adherends. However, for single-lap riveted joints with thick adherends it is shown that their failure is caused by the rupture of the rivets. Finally, it is found that fitted rivets in single-lap adhesive joints of thick adherends can enhance the joint strength.