Design, Testing and Analysis of Bolted Joints and Connections

Abstract

This chapter explores the design, testing and analysis of composite bolted joints and begins with a review of literature relating to joint mechanical behavior. The fundamental influence of joint geometry and stacking sequence on the joint response is discussed along with the significant effects of bolt–hole clearance, lateral constraint and loading velocity. The large number of studies featured in the literature review is an indication of the complexity involved in optimizing composite bolted joint design. In order to handle this complexity, accurate 3D FE modeling is considered an invaluable aid in the design of composite bolted joints and is a key focus of the chapter.