Strength prediction of bonded assemblies using a coupled criterion under elastic assumptions: Effect of material and geometrical parameters

Abstract The prediction of the failure load of bonded joints is a major issue in order to increase the confidence in the design of such assemblies. The aim of this paper is to present a method to predict the strength of adhesive joints. The failure could be initiated if two criteria are fulfilled: (i) an energy criterion and (ii) a stress criterion. The computation of these two criteria is based on elastic calculations using a 2D finite element modelling and could thus be used in an industrial design office. The effects of different parameters are studied: material parameters (elastic properties of the adhesive, strength and toughness of the adhesive) and geometrical parameters (thickness of the adhesive, presence of a fillet, overlap length). Predictions are in good agreement with experimental results evidenced in literature.