Strength Analysis of Laminated and Metallic Plates Bolted Together by Many Fasteners

This report presents a strength analysis for laminated and/or metallic plates bolted together by many fasteners. This analysis has been programmed and designated as the SAMCJ (Strength Analysis of Multi-fastened Composite Joints) computer code. SAMCJ incorporates a finite element method using special elements developed in this program to predict fastener load distributions, a stress analysis to compute average stress components at fastener locations, and a failure analysis which predicts joint failure load, failure location and mode failure. Analytical predictions of failure mode and location show an excellent agreement with experimental data generated in this program. Predictions of joint strengths are fairly accurate and generally conservative. SAMCJ represents the first one-step, test-independent analysis that computes load distribution among many fasteners, and predicts joint failure load, failure mode and failure location. This is a validated analytical that can be used in the design of efficient joints in laminated structural parts. The use of the SAMCJ computer code is fully explained in the design guide being issued concurrently. Keywords: Bolted plates; Metals and composites; Multiple fasteners; Adjacent cut outs; Fastener load distribution; Average stress failure criteria; Test correlation; Validation of analysis; and Composite structures.