Effects of adherends’ misalignment on the 3-point flexural strength of single lap bonded joints

The adhesive joints are widely used in many industrial applications due to their advantages, such as a more uniform distribution of loads, a lighter weight, and greater fatigue properties compared to the traditional mechanical joints. One of the simplest methods of bonding two sheets is a single-lap bonded joint (SLJ). This work aims to investigate how the adherends’ misalignment influences the 3-point flexural strength of adhesive single-lap joints. This misalignment is due to the geometrical defects of the equipment used to bond them. It was developed a numerical model that was validated by some experimental tests.