In this paper, the effect of aligning graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GONPs) using a direct current electric field on fracture behaviour of adhesives was studied experimentally and numerically. Aligning GONPs was modelled by using an analytical model. The fracture behaviour of the adhesive joints reinforced with randomly dispersed and aligned GONPs was studied experimentally by testing double cantilever beam specimens and modelled numerically by using a cohesive zone model that characterized by a compliance‐based method. The aligned GONPs resulted 56% and 42% further improvements in the maximum load and fracture energy of the adhesive joints, respectively, at one‐third nanofiller weight percentage (0.1 wt%) compared with the randomly dispersed GONPs that caused maximum improvements in the maximum load and fracture energy of the adhesive joints at 0.3 wt% nanofillers. The scanning electron microscopy fractography revealed that aligned GONPs promoted crack branching in the adhesive layer and caused the fracture resistance of material to further improve.