Numerical Analysis of Adhesive Thickness on Butt-Joints under Impact

The effect of the adhesive thickness on the stress distribution in the mid-bondline of the adhesively-bonded steel/steel butt joint under impact loading is analyzed using finite element method (FEM). The results show that the stress distributed in bondline near the interface was significantly affected by the adhesive thickness. When the adhesive thickness increased from 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm, the peak values of all the stress components along the mid-bondline decreased first and then increased again. The highest value of von Mises equivalent stress Seqv occurred at the point on the face subjected to impacting. When the adhesive thickness was 0.4mm, the peak value of the equivalent stress Seqv in adhesive reached the lowest value. It is in accordance with the results obtained from the experimental. Under the research condition, the suitable thickness of the adhesive is about 0.4 mm for the adhesively bonded joints subjected to the impacting load.