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To provide a basis for making assessment of the safety of adhesively bonded joints after they have been de‐painted by a dry abrasive method or a wet chemical method.

Stress analysis by a finite element method has been conducted for metal/composite and composite/composite joints in a single lap configuration. The effects of degradation of composite and adhesive, separately or combined, on the stresses in the adhesive layer bonding the two components are studied. Effects of wet and dry conditions of de‐painting are included in the study. It is assumed that in the composite these conditions affect only the laminae close to the surface from which the paint coating is removed.

The locations and values of the maximum peel and shear stresses in the adhesive are determined for both joints under different assumed conditions of degradation caused by de‐painting.

Experimental data indicating the extent of surface damage caused by de‐painting is not available.

Extensive literature study did not show any investigation of composite surface damage and adhesive property degradation on integrity of adhesively bonded joints. Results reported here will be of use in assessing effects of de‐painting on the structural performance of adhesively bonded joints.