Tensile experiment and numerical analysis of single countersunk bolt composite laminate joints

An experiment was conducted to study the tensile property of single countersunk composite laminates. A three-dimensional progressive damage FE model was established, using ABAQUS/Standard software, based on the Hashin failure criteria. The offset bearing load and ultimate bearing load calculated by the FE model, agreed well with the experimental results, proving the validity of the model. On the basis of this FE model, the process of progressive damage to the bolt hole was analyzed, and the influence of bolt tightening torque, bolt-hole clearance, and the thickness of the metal plate on the tensile strength of the joint was studied. The results show that: the bolt tightening torque enhanced the strength of the joint to some extent, and suppressed the emergence of delamination damage; the bolt hole clearance changed the initial contact condition of the bolt and hole, remarkably reducing the strength of the joint; and the thickness of the metal plate has little effect on the strength of the joint.