Designation: D 3163 - 01 Standard Test Method for Determining Strength of Adhesively Bonded Rigid Plastic Lap-Shear Joints in Shear by Tension Loading This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3163; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval. 1. Scope can be compared. This test method is intended to meet such a need. 1.1 This test method is intended to complement Test Method 4.2 This test method is limited to test temperatures below D 1002 and extend its application to single-lap shear adhesive joints of rigid plastic adherends. The test method is useful for the softening point of the subject adherends, and is not intended for use on anisotropic adherends such as reinforced generating comparative shear strength data for joints made plastic laminates. from a number of plastics. It can also provide a means by 4.3 The misuse of strength values obtained from this test which several plastic surface treatments can be compared. method as allowable design-stress values for structural joints 1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the could lead to product failure, property damage, and human standard. The values in parentheses are for information only. injury. The apparent shear strength of an adhesive obtained 1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the obtained from a joint made with different adherends or by a responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- different bonding process. The normal variation of temperature priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- and moisture in the service environment causes the adherends bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. and the adhesive to swell and shrink. The adherends and 2. Referenced Documents adhesive are likely to have different thermal and moisture 2.1 ASTM Standards: coefficients of expansion. Even in small specimens, short-term environmental changes can induce internal stresses or chemical D 907 Terminology of Adhesives? changes in the adhesive that permanently affect the apparent D 1002 Test Method for Apparent Shear Strength of Single- strength and other mechanical properties of the adhesive. The Lap-Joint Adhesively Bonded Metal Specimens by Ten- problem of predicting joint behavior in a changing environ- sion Loading (Metal-to-Metal)? ment is even more difficult if a different type of adherend is D 2093 Practice for Preparation of Surfaces of Plastics Prior to Adhesive Bonding? used in a larger structural joint than was used in the small D 4896 Guide for Use of Adhesive-Bonded Single Lap- specimen. 4.3.1 The apparent shear strength measured with a single- Joint Specimen Test Results? lap specimen is not suitable for determining allowable design 3. Terminology stresses for designing structural joints that differ in any manner from the joints tested without thorough analysis and under- 3.1 Definitions-Many of the terms used in this test method standing of the joint and adhesive behaviors. are defined in Terminology D 907. 4.3.2 Single-iap tests may be used for comparing and 4. Significance and Use selecting adhesives or bonding processes for susceptibility to 4.1 Due to the increased use of adhesive-bonded plastics as fatigue and environmental changes. but such comparisons must be made with great caution since different adhesives may a result of the inherent advantages afforded by bonded rather than mechanically fastened joints, particularly the alleviation respond differently in different joints. See Guide D 4896 for further discussion of the concepts relative to interpretation of of stress raisers and stress cracking, there is a need for standard adhesive bonded single-lap joints.