The Use of the Boundary Element Method in the Analysis of Single Lap Joints

• Published in: The Journal of adhesion Vol. 90; no. 1; pp. 50 - 64
• Main Authors: Gonçalves, D. J. S., Campilho, R. D. S. G., Da Silva, L. F. M., Fernandes, J. L. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 02-01-2014
• Subjects: Adhesive joints; Boundary element method; Finite element analysis; Finite element method; Lap-shear; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Shear; Stress concentration; Stress distribution
• ISSN: 0021-8464; 1563-518X; 1545-5823
• DOI: 10.1080/00218464.2013.763725

The most common techniques for stress analysis/strength prediction of adhesive joints involve analytical or numerical methods such as the Finite Element Method (FEM). However, the Boundary Element Method (BEM) is an alternative numerical technique that has been successfully applied for the solution of a wide variety of engineering problems. This work evaluates the applicability of the boundary elem ent code BEASY as a design tool to analyze adhesive joints. The linearity of peak shear and peel stresses with the applied displacement is studied and compared between BEASY and the analytical model of Frostig
et al.
, considering a bonded single-lap joint under tensile loading. The BEM results are also compared with FEM in terms of stress distributions. To evaluate the mesh convergence of BEASY, the influence of the mesh refinement on peak shear and peel stress distributions is assessed. Joint stress predictions are carried out numerically in BEASY and ABAQUS®, and analytically by the models of Volkersen, Goland, and Reissner and Frostig
et al.
The failure loads for each model are compared with experimental results. The preparation, processing, and mesh creation times are compared for all models. BEASY results presented a good agreement with the conventional methods.