Experimental Methodology for Testing Metal- Composite Bolted Joints

Abstract

This works consists on a new experimental methodology for testing metal-composite bolted joints. Single-lap titanium-composite structure joints attached by monel fasteners were investigated. Finite element analyses were carried out in order to predict the mechanical behavior of the joints up to the first failure, as well as to aid test setup. The experimental tests were carried out by using geometry specifications for composite-composite joints, and procedures established by the Secondary-Modulus Method for metal-metal joints. Based on the experimental tests, using the proposed methodology, it was possible to observe the mechanical behavior of the metal-composite joints, mainly the determination of the stiffness and strength of the structures. Therefore, the proposed methodology can contribute for designing metal-composite bolted joints, estimating not only the compliance, but also allowable stress values for those structures.