Strength and failure analysis of fiber reinforced plastic joints for composite structures

Abstract

The weight reduction additional strength stiffness and fuel savings offered by composite materials structures make them attractive not only to the military but also to the civilian aircraft and automobile industries when compared to conventional materials structures In these industries bolting and riveting are extensively used as a primary method to form structural joints Analysis of bolted composite joints present great difficulties to the structural analyst because of the large number of parameters which affect the strength These parameters include edge distance width bolt diameter clearance laminate thickness ply orientation ply stacking sequence washer size and newlineclamping torque The objective of this research project is to evaluate the influence of different joint parameters on the structural strength characteristics of mechanically fastened composite joints adhesively bonded joints and combined bolted bonded joints This necessitated evaluation of the suitability of polymer matrix fiber reinforced composite joints for structural application newlineExperiments were conducted to determine the strength characteristics newline