Adhesion Failure Analysis in Lap Shear Joint Specimen Subjected to Transverse Loading Made of Curved FGM

Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) are the variation of composition and structure over a volume which results in improvement of mechanical properties. Damage in adhesive-bonded FGM composite joints may generate in various forms like cohesive failure, adhesion failure, etc. This article deals with the loss of structural integrity of the Lap Shear Joint (LSJ) made with curved FGM adherends of \( Al_{2} O_{3} \) and Nickel by quantifying adhesion failure propagation. This is performed by evaluation of the interfacial stresses and the three modes of Strain Energy Release Rate (SERR). The rate of propagation of the adhesion failure in the LSJ made with FGM panels subjected to transverse loading is evaluated by employing a three-dimensional nonlinear finite element analysis. The effect of overlap length on the LSJ made with curved adherends on the interfacial stresses and the three modes of SERR is computed. The use of FGM as adherend materials is found to be effective in reducing the peak values of interfacial stresses and the three modes of SERR.