<p>Mode-I fracture in adhesive joints was characterized using an adhesively bonded short-beam bend (ABSBB) test, which involves a cracked rectangular bonded joint subjected to three-point bending, and a compliance-based beam method (CBBM). The ABSBB test offers an affordable means of characterizing adhesive joints, minimizing concerns about substrate plastic deformation without requiring advanced instrumentation. CBBM was utilized to derive equations for calculating the strain energy release rate (SERR), <i>Resistance</i>-curves (<i>R</i>-curves), and fracture energy, enabling comprehensive fracture characterization. This method eliminated the need for crack length measurement during testing, as SERR, <i>R</i>-curves, and fracture energy were obtained solely from load-displacement data. Additionally, a comparative analysis was performed between the ABSBB test and the standardized double cantilever beam (DCB) test, a benchmark for Mode-I fracture characterization in adhesive joints. Both tests were simulated using a cohesive zone model, and their respective traction-separation laws were compared. The fracture energy value derived from the ABSBB test showed a reasonable correlation with that obtained from the DCB test. Therefore, the application of CBBM to ABSBB specimens offers a reliable, cost-effective, and straightforward approach for evaluating the fracture energy in adhesive joints and other rectangular-shaped edge-notched specimens.</p>