Validation of theoretical models for the strength prediction of tubular adhesive joints

Abstract

Adhesive joints have been increasingly applied in various industries. The main concepts of adhesive joint configurations applied to flat adherends are also valid for tubular adhesive joints, which find application on offshore installations, trusses, and piping. Tubular joints present elevated strength to bending loads, have a larger overlap area than other types of joints and enable the assembly of lightweight and stiff structures. This work compares the tensile performance of three adhesives in aluminum tubular joints (AW6082-T651), as a function of different overlap lengths (LO). An analytical analysis is carried out, whose results are compared with a numerical analysis using cohesive zone models (CZM) and with the experimentally obtained maximum load (Pm). The analytical analysis was carried out using two analytical methods, from a simpler and more direct formulation, in which peel (σy) and shear stresses (τxy) were analyzed, and subsequently, continuum mechanics criteria were used to infer Pm. The CZM results were the most accurate, while the analytical models showed some limitations related to the continuum mechanics-based criteria.