The influences of geometrical parameters on the failure response of two serial pinned/bolted composite joints

In this study, the influences of geometrical parameters on the failure response of two serial pinned/bolted composite joints were analysed. The tested composite material consisted of epoxy matrix and glass fibres. It was oriented as [0 degrees/0 degrees/60 degrees/60 degrees](s), symmetrically. Three different geometrical parameters, which were the edge distance-to-hole diameter ratio (E/D), plate width-to-hole diameter ratio (W/D), and the distance between two serial holes-to-hole diameter ratio (K/D), were investigated, experimentally. Consequently, E/D, W/D, and KID ratios were designed from 1 to 5, 2 to 5, and 3 to 5, respectively. Additionally, the failure tests were performed for a range of preload moments as 2,3,4,5 Nm and without any preload moment as 0 Nm. Experimental results showed that the changing of geometrical parameters and the presence of preload moments affected failure behaviour of two serial pinned/bolted composite joints. Furthermore, the numerical failure analysis was also carried out via Lusas 13.6 code. Hashin failure criterion was preferred to determine both bearing strengths and failure modes. All in all, a good agreement is observed between experimental and numerical failure analyses