Investigation into the energy dissipation of a lap joint using the one-dimensional microslip friction model

• Energy dissipation in lap joint is studied incorporating tangential stiffness.
• A non-uniform pressure distribution of exponent law at the interface is considered.
• Critical loads for stick-slip transitions along the interface are determined.
• Results explain the various experimental exponents in dissipation mechanism.

In this paper, the energy dissipation in a mechanical lap joint is studied using the one-dimensional microslip friction model by incorporating the effect of interface tangential contact stiffness. A non-uniform pressure distribution of exponent law at the interface is considered and the resulted distinct stick-slip transitions along the contact interface are presented. Expressions of the critical slip loads giving rise to stick-slip transitions along the contact interface are determined. The loading force–displacement curves for different pressure distribution laws and different interface tangential stiffness are obtained and compared with each other. The hysteresis curves of the oscillating tangential contact forces versus tangential displacements and the dissipated energy at the contact are determined. It is shown that a classical power-law behavior is predicted between the energy dissipation and the applied tangential force. However, the exponents of the power-law are not the theoretical cubic but vary with interface stiffness and pressure distributions. The obtained results suggest that the joint interface tangential stiffness and interfacial pressure distribution are reasons for the varying exponent values obtained in experimental work.