double lap joints consisting of $left bracket$ 0//5/90//5 $right bracket$ //2//s, $left bracket$ 90//5/0//5 $right bracket$ //2//s and $left bracket$ $plus$ 45//5/ $minus$ 45//5 $right bracket$ //2//s graphite-epoxy laminates clamped between metal were pulled to failure in tension. the clamp load, loading rate and surface finish of both the composite inner and metal outer laps were varied to find their effect on the failure load. at clamp loads of 18 to 45 kn the $left bracket$ 90//5/0//5 $right bracket$ //2//s laminates had approximately equal loads at failure. however, as the clamp load icncreased to 45 kn, the $left bracket$ 0//5/90//5 $right bracket$ //2//s laminate had a higher load at failure than the $left bracket$ $plus$ 45//5/ $plus$ 45//5 $right bracket$ //2//s in all cases joint failure occurred as slip between the composite inner lap and the metal outer laps at static coefficients of friction of 0. 3 to 1. 06. the effect of metal or composite surface finish and loading rate on the failure load@ were found to be minimal for the amount of data taken. joint efficiency (joint strength/composite tensile strength) was between 75 and 95 for the $left bracket$ $plus$ 45//5/ $minus$ 45//5 $right bracket$ //2//s laminate and 10 to 20 for either the $left bracket$ 0//5/90//5 $right bracket$ //2//s or $left bracket$ 90//5/0//5 $right bracket$ //2//s laminates. 7 refs