4 - Bolted joint behavior of hybrid composites

Abstract

The exploration of hybrid composite materials is the current new trend in various applications as these materials have shown several advantages over nonhybrid composite materials. The relatively high mechanical properties of synthetic fibers and environmental friendliness of natural fibers lead to the sustainable characteristics of hybrid composite materials. The development of hybrid composite materials is actually the key factor in ensuring the balance of a “greener” environment and mechanical performance. A bolted joint is one of the known methods to assemble the composite structures for construction purposes. Pin joints are the most commonly used joining method due to their low cost, simplicity, and ease to disassemble for repair. Generally, it is impossible to make a construction without joints. However, the joints in a construction indeed are the weakest point where the stress concentration is the highest. Many factors can influence the composite joint strength, which includes temperature, preload moment, and geometrical parameters. Bolted joints with different geometrical parameters possess several failure modes and the damage initiation in the composite materials can be predicted using failure criteria. This chapter is presented to provide an outline of the bolted joint of hybrid composite materials, which include the structural applications of bolted joints, factors influencing composite joint strength, failure criteria, and failure modes of bolted joint.