On the fatigue behavior of thin and thick adhesively bonded composite joints

Investigations of the fatigue performance of adhesively bonded joints were initiated since the 1950 s. An abundance of publications has emerged dealing with the experimental investigation of the fatigue performance of adhesively bonded joints of various geometries and material combinations to serve the needs of various structures operating under various loading and environmental conditions. This work reviews the fatigue of composite adhesively bonded joints by analyzing relevant literature and reviewing current testing standards for primary applications. It classifies joints based on the materials used and the bondline thickness moving from thin film adhesive joints to thick paste adhesive joints to cover a wide range of contemporary engineering applications. The findings lead to a comprehensive discussion that lays the groundwork for further research in this field.