Probabilistic strength prediction of adhesively bonded joints composed of wooden adherends

The strength prediction of adhesively bonded wooden joints is difficult due to the anisotropic and brittle nature of the adherends, the complex stress distribution as well as the uncertainties regarding the associated material resistance. This paper describes a probabilistic method for the strength prediction of balanced double lap joints composed of wooden adherends and epoxy adhesives. The method considers the scale sensitivity of material strength modeled using a Weibull statistical function, and considers both the statistical variation and the size effect in the strength of the material. It considers not only the magnitude of the stress distributions, but also the volume over which they act. The probabilistic method presents a mechanical explanation for the increased resistance of local zones subjected to high strain or stress peaks.