Failure analysis of bolted laminated composite plates

A three dimensional progressive damage modelling program has been developed toinvestigate the behavior of bolted laminated composite plates, to determine the failuremodes and maximum load carrying capacities under tensile loading. Both stress andfailure analyses have been performed using this program in conjunction with a generalfinite element code, ANSYS. In the progressive damage model, Hashin failure criteriahave been applied and according to the damage type, material properties of compositeplate have been degraded. Net-tension, shear and bearing failure modes have beenconsidered. The progressive damage model has been compared with the experimentalstudies available in literature and approximately 2% difference has been obtained.In finite element analyses, bolt, composite plate and metallic plates have been modeledin three dimension. Additionally, a contact model between the bodies has been usedduring the analyses.In the second part of the study, the effects of laminate ply angle, plate geometry and boltpre-tension on the strength of bolted composite plates have been investigated and failuremodes have been examined. The ratio of the edge distance to hole diameter and platewidth to hole diameter have been changed from 1 to 4 and 2 to 4, respectively. Also, boltpre-tension has been changed from 0 to 5 Nm and analyses have been appliedaccordingly. [0]8, [(02/902)]s and [0/±45/90]s configurations have been analyzed andmaximum load carrying capacities have been determined.