Use of the modified Arcan fixture to study the strength of bonded assemblies for automotive applications

Adhesive joints are being increasingly used as a good solution to assemble primary structures of metallic and composite materials. Hence, the analysis of the behaviour of adhesively-bonded assemblies under mixed loadings is a critical issue for industry. This article discusses the use of the modified Arcan device to identify the strength of adhesively-bonded metal/metal and metal/composite assemblies. Different assemblies have been tested and their failure envelopes have been determined. Moreover, analyses have also been made of the influence of some crucial parameters on the behaviour of the assemblies in the study such as the composite surface state, the fabric orientation, the humidity and the presence of grease.