Interfacial stress analysis of a CFRR-metal adhesively bonded joint with/without defect under hygrothermal environment

The current study focuses on the single-lap adhesively bonded joint of carbon fiber reinforced resin (CFRR), a kind of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs), and metal with/without adhesive defect under coupled hygrothermal environment. Theoretical mechanical model, containing key geometric and position parameters of the interfacial defect, is established and solved by differential quadrature method (DQM). Influences of the coupled hygrothermal condition, external mechanical loads, adhesive defect size and position as well as adherend materials to interfacial stresses are explored and discussed. Numerical examples show the significance of consideration of hygrothermal environment for the interfacial stresses, especially the importance of temperature gradient. Taking into account the hygrothermal environment makes the stress fields more complex. The current study may offer theoretical references to investigations of failure mechanisms of adhesively bonded structures of dissimilar materials operating in complex environment conditions.