Longevity enhancement of bolted joints for aircrafts

Abstract

New designs of bolted joints with bolt countersunk heads having high longevity in comparison with the used ones were proposed. One type of joint has the bolt heads with the reduced surface taper of the bolt head and in a joined part. Two other types have a spherical head surface, which is in contact with a tapered countersink surface. The rise in the fatigue life is achieved owing to the balance of the radial tension along the contact surfaces of the head and the countersink. Designs of a washer from the direction of a nut are proposed. These washers have ring bulges of wedge-shaped cross section that form areas of plastic deformations around a bolt body during the bolt tightening and reduce the concentration of contact stresses close to an edge of the contact surfaces of the bolt and joined parts. Procedures of fatigue tests were developed. Results of tests of the proposed bolted joints supporting their high longevity are presented. Findings of experimental investigations verify the efficiency of the application of proposed types of bolted joints in the designs of aircrafts.