An investigation into the stresses in double-lap adhesive joints with laminated composite adherends

The mechanics of double-lap joints with unidirectional ([016]) and quasi-isotropic ([0/90/−45/45]2S) composite adherends under tensile loading are investigated experimentally using moiré interferometry, numerically with a finite element method and analytically through a one-dimensional closed-form solution. Full-field moiré interferometry was employed to determine in-plane deformations of the edge surface of the joint overlaps. A linear-elastic two-dimensional finite element model was developed for comparison with the experimental results and to provide deformation and stress distributions for the joints. Shear-lag solutions, with and without the inclusion of shear deformations of the adherend, were applied to the prediction of the adhesive shear stress distributions. These stress distributions and mechanics of the joints are discussed in detail using the results obtained from experimental, numerical and theoretical analyses.