Zhang, YVassilopoulos, APKeller, T2008-12-232008-12-232008-12-23200810.1016/j.ijfatigue.2008.02.007https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/32991WOS:000258022400012Adhesively-bonded joints, including double- and stepped- lap joints (DLJs and SLJs), were experimentally investigated under cyclic tensile loading. The joints were composed of pultruded GFRP laminates and epoxy adhesive. A critical stiffness was found for DLJs and a critical elongation for SLJs at which failure occurs independently of load level. Based on measured uniform stiffness degradation during the fatigue life of DLJs, a linear model of stiffness degradation was established. For SLJs, after crack initiation, stiffness decreased at a higher rate during the initial and final stages of crack propagation. A non-linear sigmoid model was established. Results of both models compared well to experimental results and enabled F-N curves suitable for design to be established. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Crack initiationElongationFatigue of materialsFiber reinforced plasticsMathematical modelsStiffnesstext::journal::journal article::research article