Study on Low-Cycle Fatigue Performance of Aluminum Alloy Temcor Joints

Abstract

Aluminum alloy Temcor joints have been extensively applied to aluminum alloy latticed shells, but easily experience low-cycle fatigue under the effects of strong winds. In this paper, the low-cycle fatigue performance of the Temcor joints was studied by experimental researches, finite element simulations and theoretical analyses. Six kinds of displacement loads were selected and the low-cycle fatigue failure mechanism and fatigue life of the Temcor joints were studied through experimental research. Under the effect of the low-cycle reciprocating load, the bolt went through continuous brittle failure and the failure position was located at the junction between the screw root and the nut. Consistent with the experimental situations, the finite element model was established and the simulation results were compared well with the experimental results. Then, a prediction method for low-cycle fatigue life based on the local stress-strain method was attempted, and the finite element simulation method was employed to calculate the key parameters. The low-cycle fatigue life prediction results based on the local stress-strain method accorded well with the test results.