Abstract: The current investigation focuses on development and verification of a modelfor numerical simulation of performance of adhesive joints under tensile loading. Differentcombination of materials in joints is considered: metal-metal, composite-composite andcomposite-metal. The objective of this paper is to present simulation results of joints usingan accurate finite element model including non-linear behaviour and large deformation.Moreover, several loading scenarios are analysed, including simultaneous application oftemperature and mechanical load. Not only the effect of temperature on mechanicalperformance of materials (adhesive as well as adherents) is analysed but also built up ofresidual thermal stresses during the manufacturing of joints are taken into account. Thisapproach is demonstrated by simulation of tensile tests of joints at several temperatures.Two scenarios of application of temperature and mechanical load using large deformationtheory are considered: 1) the thermal and mechanical loads are applied simultaneously (theproperties of the materials are adjusted accordingly to their performance at differenttemperatures); 2) temperature is applied on specimen which is not macroscopicallyconstrained and the obtained stress distribution is used as initial state for the nextsimulation of mechanical loaded joint. The influence of edge effects (due to limited widthof the joint) on the stress distribution within the joint are studied. In order to eliminatethese effects the periodic boundary conditions (BC) are used in the numerical model.These BC are adjusted to optimize numerical model and obtain efficient calculation routinefor analysis of stresses within interior part of the structure. The validity of these BCs isevaluated and verified by analysing number of case studies. The comparison between full3D FEM model and simplified 2D model is carried out. The resulting stress distributions inthe overlap region of joints are presented for different joints (the parameters are: materialcombinations, material models, geometry of adhesive layer, constraints and BCs) withcomprehensive analysis and recommendations for optimal numerical model that can beused in joint design.