Observations on fem modelling of adhesive joint debonding

Polymeric adhesives are widely used to join components in many structural and non-structural applications. Many experimental tests are required to determine critical parameters essential for strength estimation for this type of joints. Observations from numerical analyses, useful for numerical estimation of the break force in an adhesive-bonded single-lap joint, are presented. A formulation of surface energy with the use of data from numerical simulation and the obtained results are shown. The break force of a single lap joint from numerical simulations was compared with the results of the experimental test.