The Interaction of Adhesive Joint Strength and Adherend Cladding

Abstract The paper presents the results of an investigation concerning the effect of the cladding layer on the strength of a bonded joint. This has been carried out by combining the results from both experimental and analytical studies. The former involved a direct comparison of clad and unclad joints, providing data for the analytical work which was achieved through detailed non-linear finite element analysis of both clad and unclad configurations. Good estimates for failure strengths were found and, although adhesive yielding characteristics for both configurations were similar, the key to the differences in joint strength appear to be due to the presence of the adhesive fillet at the ends of the overlap.