This thesis presents the results of an investigation of bearing failure at a loaded hole in carbon fibre composite laminates. The investigation included finite element analysis and a program of experimental testing for quasi-isotropic laminates, uni-directional laminates and laminates with fibres steered along predefined trajectories. The investigation formed part of a research program in the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures Ltd (CRC-ACS) support by the Office of Naval Research from the United States. Work in progress in the CRC includes research defined in this thesis including the addition of nano-particles to the resin to improve the bearing strength. The literature survey undertaken in this thesis identified that the micro-buckling theory proposed by Professor C.T. Sun from Purdue University, Indiana USA, is the best analysis procedure for initial bearing failure in pin-loaded laminates. This failure theory has therefore been implemented in a Fortran program using the results from a finite element analysis for the nonlinear contact problem of a pin bearing on a hole in a composite laminate. The finite element analysis is executed using the commercial finite element system MSC.MARC. The numerical predictions have been validated by a test of progressive failure with the aid of an acoustic emission monitoring system. The acoustic emission parametric and frequency analysis is performed using the acoustic emission software Vallen Systeme. Fast fourier transformation of the waveform have been achieved to distinguish and identify microfailure mode. Failure mechanisms have been verified by post-mortem microstructural examination. There are 3 failure mechanisms associated with bearing failure in carbon fibre reinforced epoxy composite, the first is fibre matrix interfacial failure, followed by fibre fracture, and subsequently matrix splitting. The application of AE technique has been applied successfully to characterise the development of failure.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1989. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 189-194). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tennessee Technological University, 2007. / Bibliography: leaves 194-204.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 193-202). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-171). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-98). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-121). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-102). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-116). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on November 5, 2009. Major professor: Patrick Lemieux, Ph.D. "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering ." "August 2009." Includes bibliographical references (p. 176-178). Also available on microfiche.