A unified theory of adhesive-bonded tubular joints with dissimilar adherends subjected to a multiplicity of axisymmetric loads

Abstract In the field of stress analysis of adhesive-bonded joints, many mathematical models have been developed to analyze joints composed of a single-layered isotropic material or a homogenized layered composite material as adherends that are subjected to only one type of loading. Despite being useful in the design process, these models are unquestionably too limited for real-world applications because joints are inevitably exposed to various types of loads in changing environments. Therefore, this study aims to formulate a new unified theory of adhesive-bonded cylindrical coupler joints under a wide variety of axisymmetric loading conditions. The loading scenarios include torsion, tension, internal and external pressure, and changes in temperature and moisture. The joints can consist of isotropic, orthotropic, or laminated composite adherends bonded together by a thin adhesive layer. The governing equations of the joint are simplified to be second order ordinary differential equations, which can be analytically solved in closed forms for isotropic adherends or numerically solved for anisotropic adherends. The effects of the fiber orientation on symmetric-balanced laminated composite adherends for each load are comprehensively reported. The present models are rigorously validated through comparison with the finite element method performed in ABAQUS™. Comparable to high-fidelity finite element analysis, the present theory can accurately predict three-dimensional stress fields in tubular joints made of any practical elastic materials and geometric dimensions.