Vibrational behaviour of MWCNT-reinforced single and cross overlap adhesive joints: Experimental and FEA analysis

Vikram Hanmantrao  Londhe; Madan Mohanrao  Jagtap

doi:10.59400/sv3799

Vibrational behaviour of MWCNT-reinforced single and cross overlap adhesive joints: Experimental and FEA analysis

Vikram Hanmantrao Londhe
Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune 412115, India
Madan Mohanrao Jagtap
Operations Management, Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management, Nashik Campus, Constituent of Symbiosis International (DU),Pune 412115, India

Article ID: 3799

Keywords: single lap joint; cross lap joint; MWCNT-reinforced epoxy; vibrational analysis; experimental modal analysis; finite element analysis

Abstract

Adhesively bonded joints are widely used in lightweight aerospace and automotive structures, but their dynamic performance under vibrational conditions remains a critical design concern. Recent studies have shown that nanofiller-modified adhesives can enhance static strength, but limited experimental evidence is available on their influence on the vibration behaviour of different joint configurations. In this work, the vibrational characteristics of single lap joints (SLJs) and cross lap joints (CLJs) bonded with epoxy adhesive reinforced with 1 wt% multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are investigated through combined experimental and numerical approaches. Modal testing was conducted using an impact hammer technique and fast fourier transform (FFT) based frequency response analysis to determine natural frequencies and damping characteristics. Finite element modal harmonic analyses were performed using a three-dimensional viscoelastic model to simulate the dynamic response of the joints. The results indicate that the incorporation of MWCNTs leads to a consistent increase of the joints. The results indicate that the incorporation of MWCNTs leads to a consistent increase in natural frequencies for both joint types, reflecting enhanced joint stiffness due to nanoscale reinforcement of the adhesive layer. The effect is more pronounced in cross-lap joints, highlighting the strong sensitivity of adhesive-dominated joint geometries to stiffness modification. Numerical predictions show reasonable agreement with experimental measurements, validating the proposed modelling approach despite unavoidable experimental uncertainties. The findings demonstrate the potential of MWCNT-reinforced epoxy adhesives to improve vibration resistance and dynamic stability in bonded joints, providing useful insight for the design and optimization of lightweight structures subjected to dynamic loading.

Published

2025-12-05

How to Cite

Londhe, V. H., & Jagtap, M. M. (2025). Vibrational behaviour of MWCNT-reinforced single and cross overlap adhesive joints: Experimental and FEA analysis. Sound & Vibration, 59(6). https://doi.org/10.59400/sv3799

Download Citation

Issue

Vol. 59 No. 6 (2025)

Section

Article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

[1]Ingole SB, Chatterjee A. Vibration analysis of single lap adhesive joint: Experimental and analytical investigation. Journal of Vibration and Control. 2011; 17(10): 1547–1556.

[2]Yaman M, Şansveren MF. Numerical and experimental vibration analysis of different types of adhesively bonded joints. Structures. 2021; 34: 368–380.

[3]Güneş R, Apalak MK, Yıldırım M. Free vibration analysis of adhesively bonded single lap joints with wide and narrow functionally graded plates. Composite Structures. 2010; 92: 1–17.

[4]Haka BY, Hidayat MIP, Widyastuti. Vibration analysis of single lap joint of composite plates based on variations of plate thickness and overlap length. Materials Research Communications. 2021; 2(2): 20–28.

[5]Marchione F. Investigation of vibration modes of double-lap adhesive joints: Effect of slot. International Journal of Engineering. 2020; 33(10): 1917–1923.

[6]Sarila VK, Koneru HP, Pathapalli VR, et al. Wear and microstructural characteristics of Colmonoy 4 and Stellite-6 additive layer deposits on En19 steel by laser cladding. Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals. 2022; 76: 457–464.

[7]Wang S, Li Y, Xie Z. Free vibration analysis of adhesively bonded lap joints through layerwise finite element method. Composite Structures. 2019; 223: 110943. doi: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2019.110943

[8]Ejaz H, Mubashar A, Uddin E, et al. Influence of MWCNTs on strength properties of high viscous epoxy adhesive and fracture behaviour of adhesively bonded joints. Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics. 2022; 120: 103412.

[9]Monteiro EC, Ávila AF. The carbon nanotubes effect into single-lap joint failure modes and load capacity: A macromechanical analysis. Materials Research. 2017; 20(4): 1106–1113. doi: 10.1590/1980-5373-MR-2017-0442

[10]Srivastava VK. Effect of Carbon Nanotubes on the Strength of Adhesive Lap Joints of C/C and C/C–SiC Ceramic Fiber Composites [PhD Thesis]. Indian Institute of Technology (BHU); 2011.

[11]Tavakoli SM, Kellar EJC, Vlattas C. Mechanical testing and characterisation of a steel adherend bonded using an automotive grade epoxy adhesive. In: Proceedings of the Society of Plastics Engineers ANTEC 2001 Conference; 6–10 May 2001; Dallas, TX, USA.

[12]Londhe VH, Jagtap MM. Finite element analysis of multiwall carbon nanotubes enabled single lap joint. Journal of Polymer Composites. 2025; 13(2): 195–203.

[13]da Silva LFM, Öchsner A, Adams RD. Handbook of Adhesion Technology. Springer; 2018.

[14]Adams RD, Wake WC. Structural Adhesive Joints in Engineering. Elsevier Applied Science; 1984.

[15]Lai WL, Zhang Y, Liu J, et al. Experimental assessment on the mechanical and physical properties of epoxy adhesives incorporated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Polymer Testing. 2023; 116: 107792.

[16]Karthikeyan N, Naveen J, Venugopal A, et al. Prediction of mechanical properties of MWCNT-modified epoxy adhesives and co-cured composite joints using machine learning. Journal of Materials Research and Technology. 2025; 29: 10245–10256.

[17]Tsai MY, Morton J. An investigation into the stresses in double-lap adhesive joints. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 1994; 31(18): 2537–2563.

[18]Chełmecki J, Szeptyński P, Jasińska D, et al. Analyzing the vibration response of adhesively bonded composite cantilevers. Materials. 2025; 18(1): 93.

[19]Ewins DJ. Modal Testing: Theory, Practice and Application, 2nd ed. Research Studies Press; 2000.

[20]Maia NMM, Silva JMM. Theoretical and Experimental Modal Analysis. Wiley; 1997.

[21]Yildirim B, Kucukarslan S, Demir O. Free vibration parametric study of a single lap joint using the radial point interpolation method. Composite Structures. 2023; 308: 116668.

[22]Acar V. Numerical modal analysis of adhesively bonded joints of aramid fiber composites with interply and intraply carbon fiber hybridization. Erzincan University Journal of Science and Technology. 2025; 18(2): 618–630.

[23]Kaya AI. Effect of different step-lap joints on the natural frequencies of adhesively bonded metallic materials: A numerical study. Black Sea Journal of Engineering and Science. 2024; 7(1): 121–128.

[24]Natesan K, Naveen J, Rajesh M, et al. Flexural and vibration behaviours of adhesive joints with multi-walled carbon nanotube modified adhesive. Nanotechnology Reviews. 2024; 1.

[25]He X, Zhang Y, Li M. Numerical and experimental modal analysis of adhesively bonded joints under clamped boundary conditions. Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology. 2022; 36(14): 1561–1576.

This paper introduces a universal framework for understanding the vibration responses of systems subjected to harmonic excitation. By examining a simplified cylinder-spring-damper model, the study refurbishes traditional scaling methods for the excitation frequency ratio and critical damping ratio. The findings indicate that in damped systems, the maximum amplitude of vibration does not align with the natural frequency. This observation leads to the introduction of a new scaling method for reduced frequency. This new approach aligns resonance peaks at the new reduced velocity of 1.0 across different damping ratios, providing a consistent characterization of vibration behavior. A new critical damping ratio of 0.707 is identified for an excited system as opposed to the traditional damping ratio of 1.0 for an unexcited system. Key properties such as maximum amplitude, phase lag, bandwidth, and quality factor are analyzed, demonstrating that the proposed reduced frequency and critical damping ratio effectively capture the dynamics of both damped and undamped excited systems. The findings offer significant insights for practical applications in engineering and various scientific fields.

This study makes significant contributions to the field of ultrasonic testing (UT) by offering a novel approach to the identification of artificially introduced defects within Japanese cedar wood (Cryptomeria japonica). The findings are of particular relevance for the heritage conservation and construction sectors, where non-invasive defect detection is paramount. The study establishes a robust framework for assessing the structural integrity of timber by correlating ultrasonic wave velocity reductions with defect size and distribution. Big-sized defects led to more substantial decreases in wave velocity. The study establishes a robust framework for assessing the structural integrity of historical timber by correlating ultrasonic wave velocity reductions with defect size and distribution. This framework has the potential to be applicable to diverse wood species and defect types.

The control of vehicle interior noise has become a critical metric for assessing noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) in vehicles. During the initial phases of vehicle development, accurately predicting the impact of road noise on interior noise is essential for reducing noise levels and expediting the product development cycle. In recent years, data-driven methods based on machine learning have gained significant attention due to their robust capability in navigating complex data mapping relationships. Notably, surrogate models have demonstrated exceptional performance in this domain. Numerous researchers have integrated diverse intelligent algorithms into the study of vehicle noise, leveraging advantages such as the elimination of precise modeling requirements, extensive solution space exploration, continuous learning from data, and robust algorithmic versatility. However, in NVH engineering applications, data-driven models face inherent limitations, particularly in interpretability and stability. To address these issues, this paper introduces an improved Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network that combines knowledge and data. Inspired by the physical information neural network concept, this approach incorporates values calculated through empirical formulas into the neural network as constraints. Comparative assessments with traditional LSTM networks highlight the advantages of this deep learning model. By integrating empirical formulas constraints, the model not only enhances interpretability but also achieves robust generalization with fewer data samples. The proposed method is validated on a specific vehicle model, showing significant improvements in prediction accuracy and efficiency.