Within the framework of nonlinear elasticity, we study the behaviour of a b
onded joint formed by two adherends and a joint of thickness epsilonh. When
the stiffness of the adhesive is of order epsilon with respect to the adhe
rends, the analysis gives us a limit model where the constitutive equations
of the adherend are only linear We show existence of solutions of the mode
l and discuss the unicity. (C) 2001 Academie des sciences/Editions scientif
iques et medicales Elsevier SAS.