Buckling analysis of a taper‐taper adhesive‐bonded composite joint

Abstract An analytical model of the behavior of an adhesive‐bonded taper‐taper composite joint under axial compressive loading has been developed using the Ritz Method. The model was based on laminated beam theory. A Fourier series was used to represent the transverse displacement variable and the Ritz Method was used to derive an eigenvalue equation for adhesively bonded taper‐taper composite joint. The smallest eigenvalue is the critical buckling load. Finite element analyses were performed on two unidirectional laminated beam joints with various taper angles to verify the analytical model. The effect of varying the taper angle, adhesive thickness, and adhesive modulus on the critical buckling load was investigated analytically.