The effect of corner angles in bimaterial structures

The effect of the corner angle on bimaterial corner stresses is studied. Co rners (with one side bonded) and joints (with both sides bonded) are studie d considering the materials to be elastic and plastic. Two structures with bimaterial corners, lap and scarf joints are considered. For the elastic an alysis, the singularity at the corner as well as the stress intensity facto r an found for a range of angles using the Betti's law based reciprocal wor k contour integral theorem which combines the ease of finite element calcul ations far away from the corner with the singular representation near the c orner. The singularity and the stress intensity factors were found to depen d on the angle. For the work-hardening plastic analysis, a fourth order dif ferential equation was solved to obtain the singularity at the corner and f inite element solutions were used to obtain stress intensity factors. These parameters were found to depend on load level, hardening exponent and the angle. It is concluded that the stress intensity factors are unsuitable as failure criteria for a corner with varying angle. One exception was found t o be for a corner with high yielding that gave rise to a constant stress in tensity factor for different corner angles. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.