An experimental study on the dependence of the strength of adhesively bonded joints with thickness and mechanical properties of the adhesives

Adhesive bonding joints are widely applied in many engineering fields. Their overall strength is much dependent on the thickness of adhesive layers. Many previous experimental studies have found that the ultimate failure strength of the bonding structure increases with the decrease of the adhesive thickness. However, few of them consider the effect of adhesive intrinsic material parameters on the relation between the overall strength and adhesive thickness. In the present investigation, the effect of the adhesive thickness on the overall strength of the lightweight metallic adhesive bonding joints was experimentally studied, considering the effect of the adhesive toughness. The results show that the variations of overall strength resulting from the adhesive thicknesses have remarkable discrepancy due to the toughness of the adhesive, which is in agreement with the previous model prediction.     

Low-speed bending impact behavior of adhesively bonded single-lap joints

This study addresses the low-speed impact behavior of adhesively bonded single-lap joints. An explicit dynamic finite element analysis was conducted in order to determine the damage initiation and propagation in the adhesive layers of adhesive single-lap joints under a bending impact load. A cohesive zone model was implemented to predict probable failure initiation and propagation along adhesive–adherend interfaces whereas an elasto-plastic material model was used for the adhesive zone between upper and lower adhesive interfaces as well as the adherends. The effect of the plastic deformation ability of adherend material on the damage mechanism of the adhesive layer was also studied for two aluminum materials Al 2024-T3 and Al 5754-0 having different strength and plastic deformation ability. The effects of impact energy (3 and 11 J) and the overlap length (25 and 40 mm) were also investigated. The predicted contact force-time, contact force-central displacement variations, the damage initiation and propagation mechanism were verified with experimental ones. The SEM and macroscope photographs of the adhesive fracture surfaces were similar to those of the explicit dynamic finite element analysis.     

Progressive failure and experimental study of adhesively bonded composite single-lap joints subjected to axial tensile loads

Experimental tests and finite element method (FEM) simulation were implemented to investigate T700/TDE86 composite laminate single-lap joints with different adhesive overlap areas and adherend laminate thickness. Three-dimensional finite element models of the joints having various overlap experimental parameters have been established. The damage initiation and progressive evolution of the laminates were predicted based on Hashin criterion and continuum damage mechanics. The delamination of the laminates and the failure of the adhesive were simulated by cohesive zone model. The simulation results agree well with the experimental results, proving the applicability of FEM. Damage contours and stress distribution analysis of the joints show that the failure modes of single-lap joints are related to various adhesive areas and adherend thickness. The minimum strength of the lap with defective adhesive layer was obtained, but the influence of the adhesive with defect zone on lap strength was not decisive. Moreover, the adhesive with spew-fillets can enhance the lap strength of joint. The shear and normal stress concentrations are severe at the ends of single-lap joints, and are the initiation of the failure. Analysis of the stress distribution of SL-2-0.2-P/D/S joints indicates that the maximum normal and shear stresses of the adhesive layer emerge on the overlap ends along the adhesive length. However, for the SL-2-0.2-D joint, the maximum normal stress emerges at the adjacent middle position of the defect zone along the adhesive width; for the SL-2-0.2-S joint, the maximum normal stress and shear stress emerge on both edges along the adhesive width.     

On the effect of pulsed laser ablation on shear strength and mode I fracture toughness of Al/epoxy adhesive joints

The present work describes an experimental study about the shear strength and the mode I fracture toughness of adhesive joints with substrates pre-treated by pulsed laser ablation. An ytterbium-doped pulsed fiber laser was employed to perform laser irradiation on AA6082-T4 alloy. Morphological and chemical modifications were evaluated by means of surface profilometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Thick adherend shear tests were carried out in order to assess the shear strength while the mode I fracture toughness was determined using the double cantilever beam. For comparison, control samples were prepared using classical surface degreasing. The results indicated that laser ablation has a favorable effect on the mechanical behavior of epoxy bonded joints; however, while a + 20% increase was recorded for shear strength, a remarkable threefold enhancement of fracture toughness was observed with respect to control samples. XPS analyses of treated substrates and SEM observations of the fracture surfaces indicated that laser pre-treatment promoted chemical and morphological modifications able to sustain energy dissipation through mechanical interlocking. As a result cohesive failure within the adhesive bond-line was enabled under predominant peel loading.     

Reliability analysis of bonded joints with variations in adhesive thickness

Bonded joints are used in several industrial applications as a surrogate of more expensive repairs, but their reliability must be ascertained. Failure in a bonded joint mainly occurs in the adhesive due to stress concentrations that directly depend on the adhesive thickness. In practice, it is difficult to ensure a good accuracy of the final adhesive thickness, leading to uncertainty to its spatial variability. This uncertainty greatly influences the strength of the bonded joint. This work deals with one of the main key issues in bonded joints: the influence of the spatial variations in the adhesive thickness on the reliability of the joint and an excessive shear stress level caused by the adhesive thickness variations may lead to failure. This paper provides reliability analysis by considering the adhesive thickness as a stochastic field. The experimental thickness field is obtained so as to identify the stochastic parameters. These parameters are then introduced in a structural reliability model to evaluate the failure probability. Results show the influence of adhesive thickness uncertainty on bonded joint failure.     

Effect of pressing parameters on the shear strength of beech specimens bonded with low solvent liquefied wood

Liquefied wood (LW) is a naturally based product which has the potential to be used as an adhesive. It can be used as a part of a polymer formulation, as a part of an adhesive mixture with commercial adhesives, or as an independent material for wood bonding. In this study, wood was liquefied at 180?°C using ethylene glycol as the solvent and sulphuric acid as a catalyst. In the first part of research, LW with different pH values was used for the bonding of solid wood at 200?°C for 15?min. In the second part, LW with an optimal pH value was used for bonding at different press temperatures for 15?min. In the third part, the minimum pressing time at the optimal pH value and at the optimal press temperature was determined. Unmodified LW with a negative pH value, a press temperature of 180?°C, and a pressing time of 12?min was determined to be optimal (based on highest shear strength) for the bonding of 5?mm thick wood lamellas with the LW used in this study. At these conditions bonds exhibited shear strength of around 7?N/mm² which was too low to attain standard requirements. Despite this, high wood failure (100%) was observed as a consequence of low pH value and high press temperature which caused damage of the part of beech lamellas where LW was applied.     

The shear bond strength of repaired high-viscosity bulk-fill resin composites with different adhesive systems and resin composite types

This study compared the effect of different adhesive systems and composite resins on the shear bond strength (SBS) of repaired high-viscosity bulk-fill composites(Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill) and investigated failure modes. One hundred twenty cylindrical bulk-fill composite blocks (diameter 5?mm) were fabricated and thermocycled for 5000 cycles (5–55?°C). Specimens were roughened by diamond bur and divided into 8 groups (n?=?15). Bulk-fill blocks were repaired with the same material or nanohybrid composite resin(Tetric EvoCeram Nanohybrid) (diameter 3?mm) using different adhesive systems:Tetric N-Bond Universal (TSE);37% phosphoric acid etching?+?Tetric N-Bond Universal (TER); Clearfil SE Bond (CSE); 37% phosphoric acid etching?+?Adper^TMSingle Bond 2(SB). After repair procedures, all specimens were thermocycled again. The shear bond strengths were measured for all specimens using a universal test machine (crosshead speed of 1?mm/min). Cohesive strengths of bulk-fill composites were measured and described as control group. Debonded surfaces were observed with a stereomicroscope under 10x magnification to determine mode of failure. The SBS data of all groups was statistically analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni correction test (p?<?0.05). The specimens repaired with bulk-fill composites showed significantly higher SBS values (25.86?±?5.74, 27.05?±?4.93, 24.49?±?6.95MPa) than those with nanohybrid composites (20.41?±?3.70, 22.08?±?6.37, 18.74?±?6.40?MPa) for TER,CSE,SB, respectively (p?<?0.05). There were no significant differences in SBS according to the type of adhesive systems for both repair materials (p?>?0.05). The predominant mode of failure was a mixed type in the restorative material except for the ones repaired with nanohybrid composites using Adper^TMSingle Bond 2. High-viscosity bulk-fill composites could be successfully repaired with the same materials. SBS of repaired bulk-fill composites reached cohesive strength for all tested groups.     

单搭接胶接接头的拓扑优化

在有限元方法的基础上，利用变密度法对单搭接胶接接头搭接区域的被粘物形状进行了拓扑优化，通过曲线拟舍得到了较为合理的轮廓。拓扑优化的结果表明：在体积减少20％的情况下。胶接结构的强度不会降低；经拓扑优化后，胶层中剪切应力的峰值比优化以前增加不大，约1％。     

固化工艺对HT1012铜粉导电胶剪切强度的影响

研究了固化工艺参数对由HT1012型铜粉导电胶制备的单搭接接头剪切强度的影响。结果表明,在所采取的研究条件下,随着晾置时间的推移,导电胶剪切强度起初增加但随后减小;当固化温度为60℃、晾置时间取定为10min时,固化时间为3h所对应的剪切强度较高;当变动固化温度时,固化温度提高会引起剪切强度下降。     

预偏角对单搭接接头强度的影响

研究了在被粘物搭接区顸偏转角度对钢单搭接拉伸接头剪切强度的影响,并用弹性有限元法分析了预偏角变化时单搭接接头上胶层中的应力分布情况。数值分析的结果表明：当预偏角从0°增加到12°时,结构钢单搭接接头胶层中的所有应力峰值分量均显著下降。而在所采取实验条件下,接头的剪切强度最高值出现在预偏角为6°时。因而在进一步研究预偏角对单搭接接头承载能力的作用时,应将外载作用下接头的本征偏转情况考虑在内。     

外加磁场对粘接接头剪切强度的影响

采用自制的装置研究了磁场对由环氧胶层连接的钢制单搭接接头剪切强度的影响，结果表明．在所采取的试验条件下．试样叠合后立即施加的磁场可显著影响接头的强度；垂直于胶层的磁场提高接头的剪切强度效果高于平行磁场，磁场处理的时间以4h左右为宜。     

间隙长度与间隙位置对单搭接接头强度的影响

研究了间隙长度和间隙位置对不同单搭接接头强度的影响。结果表明,随着间隙长度的增加,接头的承载能力趋于下降,但在适当的条件下,间隙连接接头并没有大幅度地减小其强度。研究中发现间隙所处的位置对接头的拉剪强度有较大的影响,间隙位置对接头实际剪切强度的影响大于间隙长度的影响。文中还论述了同一长度间隙位于不同位置时对强度的影响。     

Influence of water immersion on the single-lap shear strength of aluminum joints bonded with aluminum-powder-filled epoxy adhesive

Durability of adhesively-bonded aluminum joints was investigated by measuring the joint strength using the single-lap shear test before and after exposure to distilled water and seawater. Fractured specimens were examined by photography and scanning electron microscopy to determine the failure modes. Addition of Al particles as much as 50 wt% did not cause any significant decrease in adhesive joint strength. Moreover, varying the Al filler content in the adhesive did not have a significant effect on adhesive behavior in either of the two environments studied. The unexposed adhesive joints failed almost completely in a cohesive (in the adhesive) failure mode. Some decrease in strength was observed in adhesive joints after exposure to both distilled water and seawater for 6 months. The decrease in adhesive joint strength was more significant for specimens immersed in distilled water than those immersed in seawater, probably due to the higher amount of moisture in the adhesive in distilled water than in seawater, as observed in a related moisture diffusion study. The joints exposed to distilled water or sea water failed in more than one mode. The interior part of the adhesive lap area failed in a cohesive mode while an adhesion failure mode was observed near the edges of the adhesive lap area, which is believed to be a result of moisture diffusion through the edges.     

胶层中间隙长度及位置对接头剪切强度的影响

研究了在单搭接接头上、胶缝中预留的不同长度间隙对接头剪切强度和剪切应力分布的影响。结果表明，随着间隙长度的增加，接头的承栽能力趋于减小，但接头的实际剪切强度却持续上升．当间隙长度再继续增加时，接头的实际强度趋于下降。研究中还发现间隙所处的位置对接头的剪切强度有较大的影响，胶层端部预留间隙使接头的承载能力和实际强度均显著下降。有限元数值分析的结果表明，间隙长度超过某特定值后，胶层中的应力集中系数会急剧上升，间隙位于端部时胶层中的应力集中程度明显高于位于中部处。     

Effect of adhesive thickness and surface roughness on the shear strength of aluminium one-component polyurethane adhesive single-lap joints for automotive applications

Adhesively bonded technology is now widely accepted as a valuable tool in mechanical design, allowing the production of connections with a very good strength‐to‐weight ratio. The bonding may be made between metal–metal, metal–composite or composite–composite. In the automotive industry, elastomeric adhesives such as polyurethanes are used in structural applications such as windshield bonding because they present important advantages in terms of damping, impact, fatigue and safety, which are critical factors. For efficient designs of adhesively bonded structures, the knowledge of the relationship between substrates and the adhesive layer is essential. The aim of this work, via an experimental study, is to carry out and quantify the various variables affecting the strength of single-lap joints (SLJs), especially the effect of the surface preparation and adhesive thickness. Aluminium SLJs were fabricated and tested to assess the adhesive performance in a joint. The effect of the bondline thickness on the lap-shear strength of the adhesives was studied. A decrease in surface roughness was found to increase the shear strength of the SLJs. Experimental results showed that rougher surfaces have less wettability which is coherent with shear strength tests. However, increasing the adhesive thickness decreased the shear strength of SLJs. Indeed, a numerical model was developed to search the impact of increasing adhesive thickness on the interface of the adherend.     

Effect of adhesive application on the shear bond strength of refrigerated and pre-heated of different composite resins to orthodontic molar tubes

Objective: To evaluate the effect of adhesive application on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic tubes to acid-etched human enamel using different temperatures and orthodontic composite resins. Methods: One hundred and twenty metal tubes were bonded to human third molars, which were randomly divided into three groups depending on the composite used: Transbond XT (XT); Transbond Supreme LV (LV); and Light Bond (LB). Each group was divided into four subgroups depending on the temperature (5°, 20°, 40°, and 60°) applied to the composite before cementing. For each experimental subgroup, half the specimens were bonded in combination with XT Primer. After 72?h, a SBS test was performed using a universal testing machine. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA, post hoc intergroup comparisons, chi-square test, and linear regression. Two representative molar surfaces from each subgroup were assessed under Scanning electron microscope. Results: The composite type only influenced XT regarding LB. The use of adhesive does not affect the SBS values of any composite. The flowable composites with adhesive containing zirconia (LV) as a filler showed lower SBS when cooled to 5?°C and when increases the temperature from 40?°C. Whether adhesive was used or not, composites with silica as filler (LB) showed lower SBS at 60?°C and increased to 5?°C. Conclusions: For all composites, from 20?°C, SBS values tend to increased and started to decline at 40°C except when adhesive is applied to the quartz-filled composite, which continues to increase, and the silica-filled composite without adhesive, which tend to decreases from 5?°C.     

Evaluation of different modelling conditions in the cohesive zone analysis of single-lap bonded joints

Cohesive Zone Models (CZM) are widely used for the strength prediction of adhesive joints. Different simulation conditions, such as damage initiation and growth criteria, are available for use in CZM analyses to provide the mixed-mode behaviour. Thus, it is highly relevant to understand in detail their influence on the simulations’ outcome. This work studies the influence of different conditions used in CZM simulations to model a thin adhesive layer in single-lap joints (SLJ) under a tensile loading, for an estimation of their influence on the strength prediction under diverse geometrical and material conditions. Validation with experimental data is considered. Adhesives ranging from brittle to highly ductile and overlap lengths (L_O) between 12.5 and 50 mm were considered. Different studies were considered: Variation of the elastic stiffness of the cohesive laws, different mesh refinements, study of the element type, and evaluation of several damage initiation and growth criteria. The analysis carried out in this work confirmed the known suitability of CZM for static strength prediction of bonded joints and pointed out the best set of numerical conditions for this purpose. Inaccurate results can be obtained if the choice of the modelling conditions is not the most suitable for the problem.     

Effects of two metal primers on the shear bond strength of orthodontic molar tubes bonded to silver amalgam restorations of different dimensions

The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic molar tubes bonded to amalgam restorations and enamel with four different area ratios, with and without the use of various metal primers. One hundred and fifty-six sound lower first molars were divided into five groups; control group (CG;n = 12) then divided into three subgroups: A, B, and C. Class V buccal amalgam restorations consisting of 25%(G1), 50%(G2), 75%(G3), and 100%(G4) of the basal areas of the molar tubes. Transbond XT Primer (TXTP;subgroup A), Alloy Primer (AP;subgroup B) and Reliance Metal Primer (RMP;subgroup C) (n = 12). Transbond XT was used as an adhesive material in all groups. Thermocycling was as 5 –55 °C, 1000 cycles. Data were analysed by one-way ANOVA and post hoc least significant difference tests (p < 0.05). Bond failure sites were classified using a modified Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) system. SBS did not differ significantly among the three intermediate adhesives in subgroups of groups 1, 2, or 3 (p > 0.05); however, SBS was significantly higher in groups 4B and 4C than in group 4A (p < 0.05). Mean SBSs of groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher than others (p < 0.05). Mean SBS of group 3 was higher than that of group 4, but lower than that of the other groups. For ARI, significant relationships between CG and the intermediate adhesive groups were found (p < 0.05). Application of metal primers, such as AP or RMP, to sandblasted amalgam adjacent to etched enamel (25, 50, and 75%) did not improve bond strength significantly compared with the application of TXTP to amalgam and enamel.     

Theoretical analysis of the decay of shear strength of adhesion in metal/epoxy/metal joints in an aqueous environment

A theory for the decay of shear adhesion strength has been applied to lead-alloy/ epoxy/lead-alloy joints in water at 65°C, 75°C and 85°C. Theoretical values for the retention of wet shear strength over time coincided with experimental data. From experiments on wet shear adhesion strength and water absorption, it has been clarified that the following two cases exist: (1) in adhesive system A, the diffusion coefficient of water is greater at the interface than in the adhesive; (2) in adhesive system B, the diffusion coefficient of water is lower at the interface than in the adhesive, and water at the interface does not immediately contribute to adhesion failure — ie, there is a time lag between contact with water and bond breakage.     

Finite element analysis of torsional free vibration of adhesively bonded single-lap joints

Adhesively bonding is a high-speed fastening technique which is suitable for joining advanced lightweight sheet materials that are dissimilar, coated and hard to weld. In this paper, the free torsional vibration characteristics of adhesively bonded single-lap joints are investigated in detail using finite element method. The effectiveness of finite element analysis technique used in the study is validated by experimental tests. The focus of the analysis is to reveal the influence on the torsional natural frequencies and mode shapes of these joints caused by variations in the material properties of adhesives. It is shown that the torsional natural frequencies and the torsional natural frequency ratios of the adhesively bonded single-lap joints increases significantly as the Young′s modulus of the adhesives increase, but only slight changes are encountered for variations of Poisson's ratio. The mode shapes analysis show that the adhesive stiffness has a significant effect on the torsional mode shapes. When the adhesive is relatively soft, the torsional mode shapes at the lap joint are slightly distorted. But when the adhesive is relatively very stiff, the torsional mode shapes at the lap joint are fairly smooth and there is a relatively higher local stiffening effect. The consequence of this is that higher stresses will be developed in the stiffer adhesive than in the softer adhesive.