Two Dimensional Displacement-Stress Distributions in Adhesive Bonded Composite Structures

Abstract

Computerized analysis of composite structures formed by the adhesive bonding of materials is presented. The adhesive is considered to be a part of a linearly elastic system whose components are individually characterized by two bulk property elastic constants. Solution is obtained by finite difference minimization of the internal energy distribution in a discretized, piecewise homogeneous continuum. The plane-stress, plane-strain problems are considered, and yield displacement and stress distributions for the composite system. Displacement and/or stress boundary conditions are allowed. Acute contour angles are not allowed. This is the only restriction for otherwise arbitrary plane geometries. Results are presented for typical lap shear specimens as well as for a particular case of a butt joint in which a void exists in the adhesive layer.