The Effects of Pin Elasticity, Clearance, and Friction on the Stresses in a Pin-Loaded Orthotropic Plate

Abstract

The effects of pin elasticity, clearance, and friction on the stresses around the hole edge in a pin-loaded orthotropic plate are studied. Two pin stiffnesses, two clearance levels, two friction levels and two laminates, a (0/±45/90) _s and a (0₂/±45) _s are studied. The cir cumferential distribution of the stresses for a variety of cases are presented. The effects of pin elasticity, clearance, and friction on the load capacity of the plate are assessed by comparing the load capacity of the plate with the capacity when the pin is rigid, perfectly fitting, and frictionless. The maximum bearing and circumferential tensile stresses at the hole edge are used as indicators of capacity. The rigid, perfect-fit, frictionless case is chosen as a comparison case since this situation has been assumed in many previous studies of this type. The results indicate that clearance and friction significantly affect the distribution and magnitude of the stresses in a way that, in general, degrades the load capacity. Inclusion of pin elasticity increases the predicted load capacity slightly.