An engineering approach to predict the bearing strength of single-bolted double-lapped joints in composite laminate

The upper bound theory was applied to analysis the bearing strength of single-bolted double-lapped joints in composite laminate. The displacement rate of the composite laminate was divided into moving zone(the composite laminate) and the static zone(the fastener). The failure occurred in the discontinuous region of the moving zone and the static zone, which were the bearing zone of the bolted-hole. Because of the different distribution of stress in each layer near the bearing hole, the failure regions and failure modes were also different. The failure regions and failure modes around the pin-loaded hole were studied, and an engineering approach was presented for the bearing strength of single-bolted double-lapped joints in composite laminate with the upper bound theory. Compared with the results of the single bolt-joint test, the new engineering formula could estimate the bearing strength of the single-bolted double-lapped joints in composite laminate suitably.