Impact loading analysis of tubular adhesive joints with geometrical modifications

Adhesive joints are valued for their ability to reduce weight, lower manufacturing costs, and expedite the assembly process. In applications where impact loading is critical, evaluating the dynamic response of adhesive structures becomes essential to ensure safety. This study presents a numerical investigation of tubular adhesive joints subjected to impact loads, examining the effects of different adhesive types. The impact damage was simulated using an adapted cohesive zone model (CZM) implemented in Abaqus®. A parametric study was conducted including inner ( q ) and outer ( a ) chamfers on the adherends, and adhesive fillets ( b ). The results include distributions of normal ( s y ) and shear ( t xy ) stresses, load-displacement ( P - d ) behaviour, absorbed energy ( E a ), and peak load ( P m ). The joints’ mechanical performance of adhesive joints was highly sensitive to the design parameters, leading to recommendations to optimize tubular adhesive joints under impact.