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Maximum Clamping Force in Single and Double Lapped Joints
Abstract
In this paper, progressive damage modeling was used in order to identify the maximum allowable clamping force in single (3DS) and double (3DD) bolted lapped joints. A constitutive model based on continuum damage mechanics was implemented and used in joint simulation. The model results were compared with experimental results and good agreement was evaluated. A 3D finite element model consists of a composite laminate plate, steel plates, steel washers, and steel bolts was adopted for the modeling of the single and double bolted joint. The effect of bolt clearance, friction coefficient, and joint type on the maximum clamping force was studied and analyzed. It was found that using the composite plate between two steel plates (double lap) increased joint clamping force capacity significantly. This leads to enhancement in the effect of clamping force and decreases the compression damage in the thickness direction of the composite plate. According to this study it is recommended to use washer bolt hole clearance less than or equal to the composite plate bolt hole clearance as bigger washer clearance can cause early damage due to bolt tightening. It was found that, the beak point of the stress destruction under the washer or the steel plate is shifted due to the softening behavior under the washer head. The clamping stiffness in the case of single lapped joint is about double the case of double lap.