Bearing strength performance: A study on the influence of AWJ drilling and delamination of GF/Al‐mesh reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

AbstractFiber‐reinforced composites acquire widespread use in the technologically advanced sectors on account of their lightweight and outstanding strength. Considering the significant connection between component quality and durability, bearing strength is a critical factor in the mechanically assembled parts during the manufacturing process. Therefore, in this paper, an experimental study was performed on hybrid glass fiber/aluminum‐mesh composites to assess the impact of abrasive water jet (AWJ) drilling on delamination and bearing strength. The samples were drilled, and the delamination damage was assessed. Finally, the bearing test was conducted on the sample in conformity with ASTM D5961M. The impact of stress distribution on the specimen's failure patterns was studied. Experimental outcomes reveal that the GFA specimen had a 2.9% higher average bearing strength than the AGF specimen. The drilling‐induced damage was determined to be the primary factor responsible for a 27% reduction in bearing strength. The optimization of operational parameters yields improved bearing load and lower damage. A significant level of conformity was detected by the regression accuracy and validation test results with a residual error of less than 10%.Highlights A comparison of two hybrid composites utilizing various layouts for damage and load bearing. Delamination damage is a key factor in predicting the efficiency of bolted connections. Using optimized operation parameters enhances drilling output response significantly.