A new versatile stiff adherend test specimen is proposed. This specimen induces a uniform pure shear stress state practically free of tension and compression in the adhesive layer. The versatility of the specimen consists in the fact that, by loading the specimen in a rotated position, a mixed mode (M^I + M^II) or (M^I + M^III) may be induced, but the present paper deals only with the pure shear case.

Comparative finite element calculations of stress distributions, especially at the free adhesive edge, and strain-energy-release rates of cracked specimens, were performed. Experimental determinations provided accurate stress-strain curves of the adhesive systems tested as well as direct verifications of the strain-energy-release rate concept in adhesive joints.