The strength of the adhesively bonded T-joints with embedded supports

In this study, mechanical properties of different T-joint configurations with embedded or non-embedded supports, subjected to tensile loading, were investigated experimentally and numerically. For this purpose, experimental studies were conducted on two different types of T-joint samples produced by using an adhesive film. Stress analyses in the T-joints were performed with a three dimensional non-linear finite element method by considering the geometrical non-linearity and non-linear material behaviors of both adhesives (FM73) and adherend (AA2024-T3). In conclusion, it can be stated that the variation of the geometry of the bonding zone, where the support was embedded, changed the stress distributions on the adhesively bonded joint. Accordingly, these variations had a strong impact on stress concentrations, the load bearing capacity and prolonged performance of these joints.