Experimental investigation on shear strength of composite single-lap joints

Shear experiments of three types of single-lap composite joints, processed respectively by using RTM, stitched RTM and adhesively bonded techniques, are carried out to investigate the influences of process on mechanical properties of composite single-lap joint and failure mechanism is discussed from experimental observation. It is shown from experimental results that the composite single-lap joints, processed by stitched RTM and adhesively bonded techniques, respectively, have the greatest and least shear strengths in three types of joint. And there is a slight influence of hygrothermal and high temperature environment on shear strength of composite single-lap joints, processed by means of RTM and stitched RTM techniques, whereas a significant effect on that by using adhesively bonded technique.