An investigation is presented into the behaviour of carbon fibre composite joints subjected to dynamic loading rates in the range of 0.1 m/s to 10 m/s. The research is focused on the response of single fastener joints and more complex structural arrangements involving multiple fasteners and complex loads. Fasteners play a crucial role in the joining of aerospace components due to their ease of installation and inspection and their resistance to creep and environmental degradation. A consequence of the operating environment of aircraft is that many critical load cases involve impact and crash. These loading events are characterised by high loading rates, high kinetic energy and possibly loads well above the static design case. The properties of composite materials change with loading rate, so it is likely that the behaviour of bolted composite joints may also vary significantly. Dynamic behaviour of bolted joints is an area of research that has been given little attention to date. The few available papers on the topic are limited to the investigation of ideal bearing loads and include some contradictory results. The research developed a detailed understanding of the behaviour of bolted joints in composite structures through a combined numerical and experimental investigation. A set of quasi-static and dynamic single fastener joint tests was conducted to develop an understanding of the complex failure mechanisms present in bolted composite joints. Simple structural tests were developed to investigate the interaction of multiple bolts in a joint. High speed camera footage, full-field strain measurement and CT scanning techniques were all used to develop an understanding of the changes in the failure process with increased loading rate. Finite element analyses used implicit and explicit dynamic algorithms to model the tests. The finite element analysis contributed to the understanding of the experimental results as well as providing a predictive tool to minimise the need for further testing. A method of incorporating detailed information about bolt failure into large scale structural models was investigated and developed. The original contributions of this thesis involve novel dynamic joint testing including dynamic pull-through and structural tests. CT Scanning was utilised in a novel way to investigate the complex failure modes within a bolted joint. Novel finite element techniques were developed for modelling bolted joints at both a detailed level and a simplified level for structural analyses. These contributions significantly improve the current understanding of bolted joint failure, both quasi-statically and dynamically, and will allow for more efficient design of bolted composite structures for crash and impact loads.

Thesis (M.E.F.E.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). "February 2007." Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-133). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-12-14Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:16:35Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 marques_bmf_me_guara.pdf: 1267078 bytes, checksum: b861835064bbb924cdbb98ad015fd1cb (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Em praticamente todo sistema mecânico, juntas aparafusadas são utilizadas com o objetivo de unir componentes distintos, controlando folgas estruturais de tal modo a manter o envelope geométrico de projeto e o alinhamento entre as partes unidas. Normalmente, os parafusos são submetidos aos carregamentos de tração e cisalhamento o qual o último gera momento de flexão no parafuso devido ao efeito de contato com a superfície do furo. O comportamento da distribuição de carga ao longo do corpo do parafuso apresenta uma grande contribuição no seu dimensionamento principalmente por causa do braço de flexão que determinará o momento atuante. Dessa forma, esse trabalho apresenta diferentes tipos de juntas aparafusadas, normalmente aplicadas em estruturas de alta responsabilidade, para analisar o comportamento da distribuição de carregamento ao longo do corpo do parafuso. As juntas apresentam diferentes materiais e espessuras das placas envolvidas como ligas de alumínio e aço, a presença de calços ou não e parafusos normatizados de diferentes diâmetros. As análises contemplam o cálculo analítico o qual apresenta o tipo de distribuição de carregamento, triangular, trapezoidal ou retangular, análise pelo método dos elementos finitos com modelos bidimensionais e tridimensionais. Assim, após a análise dos resultados obtidos pelos métodos citados, mostrou que a presença de calço nas juntas aparafusadas e a espessura das placas influenciam diretamente as diferenças entre os métodos e mesmo que as diferenças entre os métodos existam, a confiabilidade do método analítico é confirmada uma vez que todos os braços de flexão são maiores daqueles obtidos pelo método dos elementos finitos. Desse modo, as juntas dimensionadas pelo método analítico são conservativas, apresentam margens de segurança... / Practically all mechanical system applies bolted joints in order to put together independent components, fitting up structural gaps to maintain the geometrical envelope in accordance with design and the alignment between the joined parts. Normally, the bolts withstand tension and shear loads which the last one generates bending moment in the bolt body due the contact effect with the hole surface. The load distribution behavior along the bolt body presents a great contribution to define it principally because the bending arm which determines the applied moment. Thus, this study presents different bolted joints configurations, usually applied in high responsibility structures in such way to analyze the load distribution behavior all along the bolt body. The joints present different plates materials and thicknesses as like aluminum and steel alloys, considering shims or not and standard bolts with a variety of diameter. The analyses regard the analytical method which presents the load distribution type, triangular, trapezoidal or rectangular, finite elements analysis method considering bidimensional and tridimensional models. Therefore, after the analysis of the results from the mentioned methods, stared the shims and the plates thicknesses have a significant influence in the differences between the methods. Even though the differences exist, the reliability of the analytical method is confirmed once all bending arms are bigger than those resulted by the finite element method. Hence, the joints dimensioned by the analytical method are... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Fernando de Azevedo Silva / Banca: João Zangrandi Filho / Banca: Leonardo Kyo Kabayama / Resumo: Em praticamente todo sistema mecânico, juntas aparafusadas são utilizadas com o objetivo de unir componentes distintos, controlando folgas estruturais de tal modo a manter o envelope geométrico de projeto e o alinhamento entre as partes unidas. Normalmente, os parafusos são submetidos aos carregamentos de tração e cisalhamento o qual o último gera momento de flexão no parafuso devido ao efeito de contato com a superfície do furo. O comportamento da distribuição de carga ao longo do corpo do parafuso apresenta uma grande contribuição no seu dimensionamento principalmente por causa do braço de flexão que determinará o momento atuante. Dessa forma, esse trabalho apresenta diferentes tipos de juntas aparafusadas, normalmente aplicadas em estruturas de alta responsabilidade, para analisar o comportamento da distribuição de carregamento ao longo do corpo do parafuso. As juntas apresentam diferentes materiais e espessuras das placas envolvidas como ligas de alumínio e aço, a presença de calços ou não e parafusos normatizados de diferentes diâmetros. As análises contemplam o cálculo analítico o qual apresenta o tipo de distribuição de carregamento, triangular, trapezoidal ou retangular, análise pelo método dos elementos finitos com modelos bidimensionais e tridimensionais. Assim, após a análise dos resultados obtidos pelos métodos citados, mostrou que a presença de calço nas juntas aparafusadas e a espessura das placas influenciam diretamente as diferenças entre os métodos e mesmo que as diferenças entre os métodos existam, a confiabilidade do método analítico é confirmada uma vez que todos os braços de flexão são maiores daqueles obtidos pelo método dos elementos finitos. Desse modo, as juntas dimensionadas pelo método analítico são conservativas, apresentam margens de segurança... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Practically all mechanical system applies bolted joints in order to put together independent components, fitting up structural gaps to maintain the geometrical envelope in accordance with design and the alignment between the joined parts. Normally, the bolts withstand tension and shear loads which the last one generates bending moment in the bolt body due the contact effect with the hole surface. The load distribution behavior along the bolt body presents a great contribution to define it principally because the bending arm which determines the applied moment. Thus, this study presents different bolted joints configurations, usually applied in high responsibility structures in such way to analyze the load distribution behavior all along the bolt body. The joints present different plates materials and thicknesses as like aluminum and steel alloys, considering shims or not and standard bolts with a variety of diameter. The analyses regard the analytical method which presents the load distribution type, triangular, trapezoidal or rectangular, finite elements analysis method considering bidimensional and tridimensional models. Therefore, after the analysis of the results from the mentioned methods, stared the shims and the plates thicknesses have a significant influence in the differences between the methods. Even though the differences exist, the reliability of the analytical method is confirmed once all bending arms are bigger than those resulted by the finite element method. Hence, the joints dimensioned by the analytical method are... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Bolted connections where used from the beginning of vehicle construction for joining two or more parts. The reliability of bolted connections is still a major problem. The objective of this research thesis is focused on an advanced monitoring system for bolted connections in vehicle construction. A mechanical “vibrating test bench”, which was developed by the aeronautical engineer Mr. Junkers, is being adapted, to suite the requirements of the automotive industry. It is designed according to DIN 65151 standards. The bolted connection is tightened to a specific torque to achieve the required preload forces and then exposed to an oscillating elastic shear force. The preload force and their loss are measured in relation to the number of load cycles. The ideal locking mechanism would be, if no settling occurs. Realistic in practice is the remaining of a sufficient preload force which doesn’t decry with time. The aim of this thesis is, to gain knowledge that will assist in the future control of the bolt locking procedure. The test bench can be used to verify the clamping capability of a bolted connection. With the dynamic computer-aided test system it will also be possible to test critical bolted joints and their safety, which reduces the probability of costly product recalls, or even severe cases of failure.

No description available.

This study addresses the issue of adjusting the proportion of load transmitted by each hole in a multiplehole joint so that the joint capacity is a maximum. Specifically two-hole-in-series joints are examined. The results indicate that when each hole reacts 50% of the total load, the joint capacity is not a maximum. One hole generally is understressed at joint failure. The algorithm developed to determine the load proportion at each hole which results in maximum capacity is discussed. The algorithm includes two-dimensional finite-element stress analysis and a failure criteria. The algorithm is used to study the effects of joint width, hole spacing, and hole to joint-end distance on load proportioning and capacity. To study hole size effects, two hole diameters are considered. Three laminates are considered: a quasi-isotropic laminate; a cross-ply laminate; and a 45 degree angle-ply laminate. By proportioning the load, capacity can be increased generally from 5 to 10%. In some cases a greater increase is possible. / M.S.

A FORTRAN computer program applying the ultimate strength/instantaneous center of rotation method was written to generate the eccentricity coefficients used for the study of this project. For single line bolted connections, the value of the eccentricity coefficient is determined by several independent variables: NR (number of rows in the bolted connection), B (distance between two adjacent bolts in a vertical column), Xo (horizontal distance from centroid to applied load), and 0 (the load angle). From the relationships between the eccentricity coefficient and the independent variables, it was observed that a mathematical model of the eccentricity coefficient with respect to the independent variables is hard to determine. Hence, statistical equations for predicting the eccentricity coefficients were developed by using the Buckingham's PI-Theorem and regression analysis. The precision of the statistical equations is discussed, and several ways to improve the precision are presented in this paper. / Master of Science

A critical assessment of the current design theory for bolted joints which is based on a linear, one-dimensional stiffness analysis is presented. A detailed nonlinear finite element analysis of a bolted joint conforming to ANSI standards was performed. The finite element results arc presented in the classical bolted joint diagram and compared with the linear theory. The results revealed that the joint stiffness is highly dependent on the magnitude of the applied load. The joint stiffness changes continuously from extremely high for small applied loads to extremely low for large applied loads, contrary to the constant joint stiffness of the linear theory. The linear theory is shown to be extremely inadequate in characterizing the joint stiffness. The significance of the results in terms of the failure of bolted joints is discussed. Straight-forward analytical procedures are proposed for establishing estimates of the nonlinear stiffness description and the associate bolt loading in fatigue environments. The linear theory should be discarded and the more accurate nonlinear joint description be used. These results also provide the finite element community an improved model for the interconnection of substructures. The two-dimensional, axisymmetric finite element model includes bilinear gap elements to model the interfaces. Special orthotropic elements were used to model the bolt/nut thread interaction. A free-body-diagram approach was taken by applying loads to the outer diameter of the joint model which correspond to internal, uniformly distributed line-shear and line-moment loads in the joint. A number of convergence studies were performed to validate the solution. / Ph. D.

The investigation contained herein is a part of a larger, long-term project: The Development of SMART Aircraft Bolts. Structural failures, at highly stressed components, arc common in some of the aircraft used by the South African Air force. The strength of one such component, the wing bolts on the C-130 aircraft, is analysed and compared to the stress distribution in a bolt which has a small hole drilled through the centre of the bolt (which will be used to insert a sensing device). The results of this analysis will be used as input into further phases of the project, e.g., SMART material selection and the development of sensing devices. Due to the complex physics of a bolted joint, advanced analysis of the bolt under conservative loading was performed, after conducting thorough research into bolted joint design and analysis methods, in order to provoke the final recommendations. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.