Extended Finite Element Modelling of Adhesive Joints Under Peel Loads
Abstract
The use of adhesive bonds greatly increased in industrial applications, as they have multiple advantages compared to other more traditional bonding methods (fastened, welded and riveted joints). The number of approaches to predict the strength of adhesive joints has increased over the years. The eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) is a recent variant of the (Finite Element Method) FEM to model damage growth in structures, although it is yet seldom studied within the context of bonded joints. This work consists of an experimental and XFEM analysis of aluminium alloy T-joints, adhesively-bonded with three adhesive types. A parametric study is undertaken regarding the curved adherends’ thickness (tP2), with values between 1 and 4 mm. The adhesives Araldite® AV138, Araldite® 2015 and the Sikaforce® 7752 were tested. A comparative analysis between the different joints conditions was performed, too. The XFEM predictive capabilities were tested with different damage initiation criteria. It was found that, provided that the modelling conditions are properly set, accurate numerical results can be found.
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