A Coupling Solution for Interfacial Stresses in a Plated Beam

Abstract

This paper presents a coupling solution for determining the elastic interfacial shear and normal stresses of a plated beam. The mismatch of the curvatures in the beam and plate is considered. This leads to the coupling of governing differential equations for the interfacial shear stresses and normal stresses. Existing solutions assume the beam and plate have an equal curvature to uncouple this effect. In this paper, however, it is shown that the mismatch of curvatures leads to a larger interfacial shear stress but a lower normal stress. The unequal curvatures resulting from the elastic deformation of the adhesive layer will have an obvious contribution to the bending moment distribution on beam and plate, especially when the flexural rigidity of the bonded plate increases: the vertical deformation of the adhesive layer near the end of plate will become larger and then results in an increasing contribution by interfacial stresses. These findings are therefore very important to the design of strengthened beams.