This review presents a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in the tensile performance of adhesively bonded joints, focusing on applied aspects and modeling developments rather than providing a full theoretical analysis. Although many studies have addressed individual joint types or modeling techniques, an integrated review that compares joint configurations, modeling strategies, and performance optimization methods under tensile loading remains lacking. This work addresses that gap by examining the mechanical behavior of key joint types, namely, single-lap, single-strap, and double-strap joints, and highlighting their differences in stress distribution, failure mechanisms, and structural efficiency. Modeling and simulation approaches, including cohesive zone modeling, extended finite element methods, and virtual crack closure techniques, are assessed for their predictive accuracy and applicability to various joint geometries. This review also covers material and geometric enhancements, such as adherend tapering, fillets, notching, bi-adhesives, functionally graded bondlines, and nano-enhanced adhesives. These strategies are evaluated in terms of their ability to reduce stress concentrations and improve damage tolerance. Failure modes, adhesive and adherend defects, and delamination risks are also discussed. Finally, comparative insights into different joint configurations illustrate how geometry and adhesive selection influence strength, energy absorption, and weight efficiency. This review provides design-oriented guidance for optimizing bonded joints in aerospace, automotive, and structural engineering applications.

This study examines the behavior of hybrid bolted/bonded (HBB) joints loaded in tensile shear comprising plain weave carbon/epoxy laminates in quasi-isotropic (QI) and cross-ply (CP) layups. It proposes a combined approach of 3D digital image correlation and finite element analysis (FEA) to assess their behavior. To apply the FEA simulation accurately, a single layer of plain fabric was replaced with ${[0/90]}_s$ lamination. Experimental standard open-hole tension test results, as well as only bolted (OB) and HBB, along with FEA predictions, confirmed the accuracy of the substitution method. The FEA, calibrated by experimental results, provides insight into the distinctive characteristics of HBB joints in comparison with bonded and bolted joints. Critical considerations include material properties, damage modeling, adhesive characteristics, and mass scaling. The FEA results underscored the pivotal role of adhesives in HBB joints, rendering them akin solely to bonded configurations. HBB joints retain their geometry better than OB joints with considerably less out-of-plane displacement, following a sinusoidal trend. Moreover, the overall behavior of the two layups demonstrates that CP benefits from having higher strength than QI, especially at the critical hole located closer to the grip side.

A finite element analysis (FEA) was conducted to examine the behaviour of single-lap quasi-isotropic (QI) and cross-ply (CP) hybrid bolted/bonded (HBB) configurations subjected to tensile shear loading. Several critical design factors influencing the composite joint strength, failure conditions, and load-sharing mechanisms that would optimise the joining performance were assessed. The study of the stress concentration around the holes and along the adhesive layer highlights the fact that the HBB joints benefit from significantly lower stresses compared to only bolted joints, especially for CP configurations. The simulation results confirmed the redundancy of the middle bolt in a three-bolt HBB joint. The stiffness and plastic behaviour of the adhesive were found to be important factors that define the transition of the behaviour of the joint from a bolted type, where load sharing is predominant, to a bonded joint. The load-sharing potential, known as an indicator of the joint’s performance, is improved by reducing the overlap length, using a low-stiffness, high-plasticity adhesive, and using thicker laminates in the QI layup configuration. Enhancing both the ratio of the edge distance to the hole diameter and washer size proves advantageous in reducing stresses within the adhesive layer, thereby improving the joint strength.

In this paper, an improved refined shear and normal deformation theory is used in order to investigate the vibration behavior of functionally graded rectangular plates. In this theory, displacements of various points of plate are assumed to be due to in-plane displacements of the middle plane and transverse displacement. Transverse displacement is divided into three parts: bending, shear, and thickness stretching. Using the Airy stress function, corresponding to the compatibility equation, and employing the extended Hamilton’s principle, in-plane displacements are omitted from the equations of motions. Thus, the proposed approach uses only three-unknowns in the displacement field. The results of vibration analysis using the proposed approach are in excellent agreement with three-dimensional and quasi-three-dimensional solutions containing a greater number of unknowns to consider the thickness stretching effect. Static and dynamic behavior of wide variety of thin and thick functionally graded plates can be studied using the proposed approach in which not only the number of variables is reduced, but also the contribution of bending, shear, and thickness stretching are completely clarified.

In this paper, an approach based on the refined plate theory and Airy stress function has been proposed to investigate the vibration and buckling behaviors of functionally graded (FG) rectangular plates. The significant feature of the proposed approach is considering only two unknowns in the displacement field in which the contribution due to shear and bending to the total transverse displacement are clarified. Using the extended Hamilton’s principle and defining an Airy stress function corresponding to the compatibility equation, the equations of motion, which do not explicitly include the in-plane displacements, are derived. The accuracy and effectiveness of the current model is shown by comparing the natural frequencies and buckling loads of various FG rectangular plates calculated by the proposed approach with even three-dimensional (3-D) and quasi-3D solutions. Besides, the exact dynamic response of a square FG plate due to a harmonic central force is investigated using modal analysis. This approach is capable of handling quasi-3D models , by selecting proper functions in the displacement field to consider the thickness stretching effect. By doing this, behavior of FG square plates with various coefficient functions are compared with each other. Therefore, through implementing the Airy stress function, the number of variables is reduced, in turn, simplifying the dynamic model. Consequently, it can be used for wide range study of static and dynamic behaviors of FG plates.

A finite element analysis (FEA) was conducted to examine the behaviour of single-lap quasi-isotropic (QI) and cross-ply (CP) hybrid bolted/bonded (HBB) configurations subjected to tensile shear loading. Several critical design factors influencing the composite joint strength, failure conditions, and load-sharing mechanisms that would optimise the joining performance were assessed. The study of the stress concentration around the holes and along the adhesive layer highlights the fact that the HBB joints benefit from significantly lower stresses compared to only bolted joints, especially for CP configurations. The simulation results confirmed the redundancy of the middle bolt in a three-bolt HBB joint. The stiffness and plastic behaviour of the adhesive were found to be important factors that define the transition of the behaviour of the joint from a bolted type, where load sharing is predominant, to a bonded joint. The load-sharing potential, known as an indicator of the joint's performance, is improved by reducing the overlap length, using a low-stiffness, high-plasticity adhesive, and using thicker laminates in the QI layup configuration. Enhancing both the ratio of the edge distance to the hole diameter and washer size proves advantageous in reducing stresses within the adhesive layer, thereby improving the joint strength.