DURABILITY OF BONDED METAL JOINTS IN MOTOR-VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION

To estimate the long term behaviour of bonded joints investigations on shear strength and fatigue strength were conducted on lap shear specimens of sheet metal (steel and aluminium alloys) in the as-received condition and after weathering (weathering cycle according to the modified VDA-climate test and IN-test respectively). Additional fatigue tests on typical structural specimens were included in the tests. Microstructural investigations on tested specimens gave evidence of the damage process and damage character. Appropriate selection of adhesives and sheet metal types (state of the metal surface) give satisfactory resistance for the application of adhesive bonded metal joints to primary structural parts. Fatigue life data and stresses sustained respectively of undamaged and pre-corroded specimens are well above those of comparable assemblies made by point jointing techniques like spotwelding and clinching.