A NEW ANALYSIS FOR THE STATIC STRENGTH OF BOLTED JOINT IN COMPOSITE LAMINATES

A new finite element program was developed for analyzing the static strength of bolted joint in composite laminates.Based upon the failure characteristic ply by ply from circumference to inner region,Tsai-Wu tensor criterion was suggested in predicting the ply failure,and the reduced modulas of failed ply of elements was supposed to revalue its residual sustaining load capacity.Two fracture rnodels were also introduced in estimating the failure of mechanical joints.Theoretical results of ultimate stress as well as failure propagation or model were given for 21 different orintations of T300/648 Carbon/epoxy composite laminates.These results are of satisfactorv agreement with the testing data.