Yield of Circular Weld Joining Elastic Plates

The connection considered is created by a thin layer of adhesive distributed over a circular region. The connection joins two plates of elastic-perfectly plastic material that are subjected to gradually increasing shear. Using an idealized model of the connection, a method is developed to estimate the extent of the yield zone that arises, starting at the perimeter of the circular adhesive connection. The method, based on continuum mechanics, also permits an estimate of the plastic stretch that develops in the yielded zone and of the critical stresses in the interior of the connection. Formulas are given for the limiting cases of a very thick plate and a thin plate at a load near that which would produce failure. Numerical results are presented for other geometries and loads.