Three-Dimensionai Finite Element Analysis of Stress Response in Adhesive Butt Joints Subjected to Impact Tensile Loads

The stress wave propagation and the stress distribution in adhesive butt joints of similar adherends subjected to impact loads are analyzed using three-dimensional finite-element method (FEM). The code employed is DYNA3D. An impact load is applied to a joint by dropping a weight. An adherend of a joint is fixed and the other adherend to which a bar is connected is impacted by the weight. The height of the weight is changed. The effect of the ratio of the adherends’ the adhesive’s Young’s modulus, the adhesive thickness and the geometry of T-shape adherends on the stress wave propagation at the interface are examined. It is found that the maximum stress is caused at the interface of the adherend subjected to an impact load. In the case of T-shape adherend, it is seen that the maximum stress is caused near the center of the interface and that it increases as Young’s modulus of the adherends increases. In the special case where the web length of T-shape adherends equals to the interface length, it is seen that the singular stress occurs at the edge of the interfaces and it increases as Young’s modulus of adherends decreases. The maximum principal stress increases as the adherends’ thickness increases. In addition, strain response of adhesive butt joints subjected to impact loads was measured using strain gauges. Fairly good agreement is found between the numerical and the measured results.