Analysis of manufacturing parameters on the shear strength of aluminium adhesive single-lap joints

An experimental and numerical investigation into the shear strength behaviour of aluminium alloy adhesive lap joints was carried out in order to understand the effect of geometrical and manufacturing parameters on the strength of adhesive bonding joints, with the aim of optimizing shear strength. The adherend material used for the experimental tests was an aluminium alloy in the form of thin sheets, and the adhesive used was a high strength epoxy. Five surface treatments were studied. The surface treatments process using sodium dichromate–sulphuric acid etch (CSA) and abrasive polishing (AP) resulted in improved joint shear strength when compared to acetone cleaning (SW), caustic etch (CE), and Tucker's reagent etch (TR). The decrease in surface roughness was found to increase the shear strength of single-lap joints. An increase in adherend thickness and overlap length was found to increase shear strength which means that an increase in joint rigidity increases its strength. A numerical analysis was developed to explain the effect of the geometrical parameters on rotation angle, stress and strain fields, and failure load. An increase in adherend thickness and overlap length decreases the joint rotation angle, reducing the plastic strain peak and therefore increasing the failure load.