Evaluation of the Single-Lap Joint Using Finite Element Analysis

This report evaluates the effect of moisture, specimen geometry and adherend properties on the behaviour of the single-lap joint. Finite element analyses was used to establish the effects of these parameters on the joint stiffness and stress distribution within the adhesive layer. The report also includes an evaluation of the perforated single-lap joint, assumed to promote accelerated ageing by shortening the diffusion path of moisture. A series of stress and deformation analyses using finite element analysis (FEA) has been conducted on the single-lap configuration for this purpose. The analyses were based on experimental data obtained from data generated within the DTI funded ADH and PAJ programmes. The effect of moisture on the joint performance was investigated using a sequentially coupled mechanical-diffusion finite element model that incorporated continuously varying adhesive material properties. The numerical predictions revealed that the stress distributions become more uniform along the adhesive layer with increasing moisture content. Peel stresses at the ends of the bonded area also decrease with increasing moisture content. The introduction of holes decreases the time taken for the moisture content in th