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The paper deals with the application of an efficient finite element (FE) model for thefailure analysis of bonded structures. Aim of the work is to assess the accuracy andapplicability of the computational model in the prediction of the post-elastic response ofcomplex bonded structures, having large dimensions. In order to overcome thelimitations retrieved in the technical literature, such as the use of special elements, thepresent work assesses the applicability of a reduced computational method, previouslypresented by the authors. The method is based on standard modeling tools, which areavailable in most of commercial FE softwares. The method describes the adherends bysemi-structural elements (plates or shells), and the adhesive by means of a single layerof cohesive elements.This work applies the proposed reduced method to a complex, industrial-like structure.A square thin-walled beam is considered, made of two different portions joined head tohead by overlapping thin plates on each side. The beam is loaded by a three pointbending fixture up to failure and originates a complex stress field on the bonded region.The benchmark for the computational analyses are the force-displacement curvesobtained by experimental tests on two different geometries. The comparison with theexperimental data shows a good accuracy of the proposed method in terms of theprevision of the structure stiffness, the maximum load (error below 10%) and postelasticbehaviour up to the breakage of the structure. The numerical precision and thecomputational speed make the proposed method very useful for the efficient analysis ofcomplex bonded structure, both in research and industrial world.