Effect of Elastic Modulus on the Stress in Single Lap Joints with a Metal Mosaic Block

The effect of the elastic modulus of the adhesives on the stress distribution in single lap joint with a steel mosaic block under loading was investigated using the elastic-plastic finite element method (FEM). The results show that the stress in the adhesive layer increases as the elastic modulus of adhesive increased while the stress in the mosaic block (along the elongation line of the mid-bondline) decreased. The effect of the mosaic block to enhance the joint was weakened when the adhesive with high elastic modulus was used. When the adhesives with lower elastic modulus used, the ability of deformation for the adhesive layer may increase. And the peak stresses near the free end of the lap zone would be reduced so that the shear stress in the mosaic block was increased and the mosaic block carried more load. It is suggested that a suitable elastic modulus of adhesives be chosen when it is demanded to improve the load bearing capacity of the adhesively bonded joint.