The static tensile load bearing capability of as adhesively-bonded tubular single lap jint that is calculated usign the linear mechanical properties of adhesive is usually far from the experimentally determined because the majority of the load transfer of the adhesively-bonded jointd is accomplished by the nonlinear behavior of the rubber-toughened eoxy adhesive. In this paper, both the nonlinear mechanical properties and the fabrication residual thermal stresses of adhesive were included in the calculation of the stresses of adhesively-bonded joints. The onlinear tensile properties of adhesive were approximated by an exponential form which was represented by the initial tensile modulus and ultimate tensile stength of adhesive. The stress distribution in the adhesive were calculated by applying the load obtained from the tensile tests. From the tensile tests and the stress analysis of adhesively-bonded hoints, the failure model for adhesively-bonded tubular single lap joints was proposed.