Pereira, AntónioFerreira, J.M.Antunes, F.V.Bartolo, Paulo2025-05-122025-05-122009-03A.M. Pereira, J.M. Ferreira, F.V. Antunes, P.J. Bártolo, Study on the fatigue strength of AA 6082-T6 adhesive lap joints, International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, Volume 29, Issue 6, 2009, Pages 633-638, ISSN 0143-7496, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2009.02.009.0143-7496http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/12867A research study on the fatigue behaviour of aluminium alloy adhesive lap joints was carried out to understand the effect of surface pre-treatment and adherends thickness on the fatigue strength of adhesive joints. The adherend material used for the experimental tests was an aluminium alloy 6082-T6 in the form of thin sheets, and the adhesive used was a high strength epoxy (Araldite 420 A/B). The surface preparation included an abrasive preparation (AP joints) and sodium dichromate-sulphuric acid etch (CSA joints). A maximum fatigue strength was obtained for the CSA surface treatment with a 1.0 mm adherends' thickness. The fastest fatigue damage was related with a high surface roughness and a high stress perpendicular to adhesive surface, which helps to promote the adhesive failure. A numerical analysis was also performed to understand the effect of the adherends thickness on the stress level. Results showed an increase of the out-of-plane peak stresses with the increase of adherends thickness.engAluminium and alloysSurface treatmentFinite element stress analysisFatiguejournal article10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2009.02.009