Fretting fatigue characteristics of fiber metal laminates analyzed by using strain energy density method

In order to study the fretting fatigue characteristics of fiber metal laminates, stress and strain components on critical plane of aluminum layer for the fiber metal laminates were solved firstly based on critical plane method in three-dimensional coordinate system, and Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) as well as Mode I Nita-Ogatta-Kuwabara (NOK) strain energy density parameters were solved further. Then, the relational expression of strain energy density parameter-fretting fatigue life was established, and the undetermined parameters in life prediction expression were obtained through experiment data. Finally, the effects of aluminum layer thickness, fiber layer thickness, relative thickness of each layer and the round radius of bridge feet on fretting fatigue damage position and life were analyzed using Mode I NOK strain energy density criteria, and some rationalization advices were proposed for fretting fatigue resistance design of fiber metal laminates. The results show that by increasing the aluminium layer thickness, the fretting fatigue life can be improved; however, the fretting fatigue characteristics can not be improved by increasing fiber layer thickness and the round radius of bridge feet. The method proposed can provide theoretical references for the analyses of fretting fatigue problems in rivets and bolt connections for fiber metal laminates.