Improvement in Strength of Adhesively Bonded Single-Lap Joints Using Reinforcements.

In order to enhance the strength of adhesively bonded single-lap joints (SLJs), the adhesively bonded SLJs with reinforcements were proposed. Adhesively bonded SLJs of different substrates and with different reinforcements were investigated experimentally and numerically. Scanning electron microscopy was performed on the fracture surfaces of the joints to analyze the failure mechanism. Shear stresses and peeling stresses of the adhesive layer were calculated with finite element analyses (FEA). Results showed that the deformation of the joints decreased with an increase in stiffness at the end of the overlap region. The strength increase in adhesively bonded SLJs with reinforcements was validated by the results from experimental tests and FEA. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]