Paper number 913

BOLTED JOINT FRACTURE MODES IN GLASS-FIBRE REINFORCED POLYESTER

B. Vangrimde1 and R. Boukhili1

1Center for Applied Research on Polymers, École Polytechnique de Montréal, CP 6079, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Quebec, H3C 3A7, Canada

Summary The performance of bolted joints in composite materials can be optimized in many ways, including optimization of the joint geometry and optimization of the fibre orientation and stacking sequences. In this investigation, the performance of different material configurations is evaluated using the standard ASTM D5961 coupon geometry. The standard advises however the use of a quasi-isotropic lay-up for the bearing response test. Since other lamination sequences are used in this investigation, the preferred bearing failure is not guaranteed and other failure mechanisms are observed. Moreover, it is intended to show that in general purpose composite laminates, the performance of a bolted joint is a complex procedure that should be assessed by a careful examination of the whole mechanical response along with a clear description of the damage growth.
Keywords bolted joints, fastening, fracture modes, bearing, shearout, GRP.

Theme : Joints ; Mechanical joints

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