Tensile strength of multi-material bolted double lap joints under static loading

Abstract

This paper aims to study the mechanical behavior and failure mode of Al 6082-T6 & Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in double-lap bolted joints. To accomplish this, the effect of geometric parameters was investigated using ABAQUS/Standard. Multi-material bolted assemblies have recently gained increasing attention in the aerospace engineering field, due to enhanced design possibilities and positive size effects with regard to decreasing ply thickness. In this paper, the mechanical behavior of polymer and aluminum alloy bolted joints with double‐lap bolted structure under quasi‐static loading was studied numerically. In general, double lap joints were found to have greater load carrying capacities than single bolt joints (by 40%–49%). Also, double bolt joints with wider plates (increased width) can beneficially shift the failure mode from net-tension to bearing. The geometric parameters were found to play an important role in controlling the failure mode so that catastrophic failure modes of net-tension and shear-out can be prevented in bolted joint.