Finite element analysis of adhesive joints in four-point bending load

Nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) was applied to the adhesively bonded Single Lap Joint (SLJ) in bending load. Two adhesives, one stiff and one flexible, with very different mechanical behaviors, and hard steel as adherend with four different thicknesses, were analyzed for the joint configuration. For comparison, experimental work was also undertaken. It was shown that adherend thickness played an important part in the joint performance; while the stiff adhesive gave stronger joint strength when using thick adherends, the opposite was the case for the flexible adhesive when using thin adherends. These results were related to the mechanical behaviors of the adhesives used. It was shown that the results from the FEA and the experimental works were in a good agreement.