Strength of Mechanically Fastened Composite Joints

Abstract

A method is presented for predicting the failure strength and failure mode of mechanically fastened fiber reinforced composite laminates. The method in cludes two steps. First, the stress distribution in the laminate is calculated by the use of a finite element method. Second, the failure load and the failure mode are predicted by means of a proposed failure hypothesis together with Yamada's failure criterion. A computer code was developed which can be used to calculate the maximum load and the mode of failure of joints involving laminates with different ply orientations, different material properties, and dif ferent geometries. Results generated by the present method were compared to data and to existing analytical and numerical solutions. The results of the pres ent method were found to agree well with those reported previously. Parametric studies were also performed to evaluate the effects of joint geometry and ply orientation on the failure strength and on the failure mode.