Investigation the effect of tightening torque on the fatigue strength of double lap simple bolted and hybrid (bolted–bonded) joints using volumetric method

In this research, the effect of the tightening torque on the fatigue strength of 2024-T3 double lap simple bolted and hybrid (bolted–bonded) joints have been investigated experimentally by conducting fatigue tests and numerically by implementing finite element analysis. To do so, three sets of specimens were prepared and each of them subjected to tightening torque of 1, 2.5 and 5 Nm and then fatigue tests were carried out under different cyclic longitudinal load levels. In the numerical method, the effect of the tightening torque on the fatigue strength of the considered joints has been studied by means of volumetric method. To obtain stress distribution around the notch (bolt hole) which is required for the volumetric method, nonlinear finite element simulations were carried out. In order to estimate the fatigue life, the available smooth S–N curve of Al2024-T3 and the fatigue notch factors obtained from the volumetric method were used. The estimated fatigue life was compared with the available experimental test results. The investigation shows that there is a good agreement between the life predicted by the volumetric method and the experimental results for different specimens with a various amount of tightening torques. The results obtained from the experimental analysis showed that the hybrid joints have a better fatigue strength compared to the simple bolted joints. In addition, the volumetric method and experimental results revealed that the fatigue life of both kinds of the joints were improved by increasing the clamping force resulting from the torque tightening due to compressive stresses which appeared around the bolt hole.     

Stacking Sequence Effects on Fatigue Intra-laminar Damage Progression in Composite Joints

In this paper the effects of the stacking sequence on the fatigue intra-laminar damage accumulation in pinned composite joints is investigated. A fatigue damage propagation numerical model based on gradual material degradation rules and Hashin fatigue failure criteria is formulated, implemented in a finite element platform and then used to simulate the intra-laminar fatigue damage evolution in the analysed composite joints. The model has been preliminary validated against literature experimental data in terms of s-n curves providing confirmation of its effectiveness in predicting the joints fatigue life. Different stacking sequences: zero-dominated, quasi-isotropic, cross-ply with different 0 ° and 90 ° plies distributions, have been considered when investigating the influence of the stacking sequence on the fatigue behaviour of the joints. The simulation of the joints’ fatigue life provided detailed information on the intra-laminar damage mechanisms on-set and evolution related to fatigue gradual degradation of material stiffness and strength for different values of the applied maximum stresses.     

Fatigue crack growth and life prediction of a single interference fitted holed plate

To understand the different aspects of fatigue behaviour of complex structural joints it will be much helpful if the effects of different parameters are studied separately. In this article, to study the isolated effect of interference fit on fatigue life a pined hole specimen is investigated. This specimen is a single‐holed plate with an oversized pin which force fitted to the hole. The investigation was carried out both experimentally and numerically. In the experimental part, interference fitted specimens along with open hole specimens were fatigue tested to study the experimental effect of the interference fit. In the numerical part, three‐dimensional finite element (FE) simulations have been performed in order to obtain the created stresses due to interference fit and subsequent applied longitudinal load at the holed plate. The stress distribution obtained from FE simulation around the hole was used to predict crack initiation life using Smith–Watson–Topper method and fatigue crack growth life using the NASGRO equation with applying the AFGROW computer code. The predicted fatigue life obtained from the numerical methods show a good agreement with the experimental fatigue life.     

Effect of fibre length on fatigue of short carbon fibre/epoxy composite

The effect of fibre length on the fatigue of a random short carbon fibre/epoxy composite containing 1, 5 or 15 mm length fibres has been studied. All laminates gave a sloping S-N curve with longer fatigue lives obtained at decreasing peak stresses. The fatigue life was independent of fibre length at any peak strain, within experimental variation. Damage accumulation during fatigue cycling is studied in terms of residual strength and modulus reduction. Both techniques suggest that fatigue failure is the result of a ‘sudden death’ mode of failure. Finally, the effect of matrix type on the fatigue life of laminates containing 5 mm length fibres was investigated by adding a greater quantity of flexibilizer to the epoxy matrix. Shorter fatigue lives were obtained for laminates having the more flexible matrix.     

Fatigue crack initiation assessment of welded joints accounting for residual stress

The impact of residual stresses on the fatigue crack initiation life of welded joints is evaluated by the finite element method. The residual stresses of nonload‐carrying cruciform joints, induced by welding and ultrasonic impact treatment, are modelled by initial stresses, using the linear superposition principle. An alternative approach of using modified stress‐strain curves in the highly stressed zone is also proposed to account for the residual stress effect on the local stress‐strain history. An evaluation of the fatigue crack initiation life of welded joints based on the local strain approach is carried out. The predicted results show the effect of residual stresses and agree well with published experimental results of as‐welded and ultrasonic impact treated specimens, demonstrating the applicability of both approaches. The proposed approaches may provide effective tools to evaluate the residual stress effect on the fatigue crack initiation life of welded joints.     

Prediction of fatigue life in aircraft double lap bolted joints using several multiaxial fatigue criteria

In this research, the effects of torque tightening on the fatigue strength of 2024-T3 aluminium alloy double lap bolted joints have been studied via experimental and multiaxial fatigue analysis. To do so, three sets of the specimens were prepared and each subjected to different levels of torque i.e. 1, 2.5 and 5 N m and then fatigue tests were carried out at various cyclic longitudinal load levels. A non-linear finite element ANSYS code was used to obtain stress and strain distribution in the joint plates due to torque tightening of bolt and longitudinal applied loads. Fatigue lives of the specimens were estimated with six different multiaxial fatigue criteria by means of local stress and strain distribution obtained from finite element analysis. Multiaxial fatigue analysis and experimental results revealed that the fatigue life of double lap bolted joints were improved by increasing the clamping force due to compressive stresses which appeared around the hole.     

The effect of hole shape on the extent of fatigue life improvement by cold expansions

The cold expansion of circular holes is known to improve resistance to fatigue. In this study the effect of the cold expansion of a circular hole on fatigue life by means of a quasi-elliptical pin was investigated. Additional evaluations were conducted, including determinations of the effects of crack propagation from the hole. The major life extension was obtained through slower crack growth in the short-crack stage. The decrease in fatigue crack growth in cold-expanded specimens was related to higher crack-opening stresses which are a consequence of the presence of compressive residual stresses arising from cold expansion. In this study, an experimental investigation was carried out to quantify the effect of the cold expansion on the initiation and the propagation of the fatigue crack and was discussed. Fatigue life improvement of the cold-worked hole specimen was explained by determining the hardness results around the cold-worked hole. The results indicate that significant life improvements can be obtained through cold expansion applied with a quasi-elliptical pin in this work with the optimum results being obtained when the pin diameter is 4% larger than the diameter of the specimen hole. Also, a brief examination of the effect of the rivet shape on the fatigue life of a riveted specimen was carried out. To lengthen the fatigue life of a riveted plate which uses countersunk head rivets, the shape of the countersink and the rivet head were improved. The experimental results showed that the fatigue life of the riveted plate was improved where the improved rivet was used.     

On the behavior of bonded joints in composite material structures

The application of advanced reinforced composite materials in aerospace structures during the remainder of this century is widely predicted. The joining of structural components by adhesive bonding is extremely desirable, because both bolting and riveting result in the cutting of fibers as well as the introduction of stress concentrations, both of which reduce the structural efficiency. R.E. Watson states that, “The next two decades will surely see dramatic advances in structures as compared to those experienced over the last 30 years. Improved titanium alloys and the advanced high strength composites, with more strength per pound than aluminum, will be the principal materials used.” Further he writes, “New bonding techniques will gradually replace riveting in many applications, permitting greater design stresses and more efficient distribution of the materials.”Because in aerospace structures dynamic loads are always present, it is absolutely essential that the fatigue behavior of bonded joints between composite material components be better understood, in order to have available design principles and rationale to take advantage of the desirable characteristics of composite materials.To date the few isolated experimental studies of composite-composite or composite-metal adherend bonded joints have been conducted under static and/or constant amplitude cyclic loading, and no generally accepted cumulative damage theories have evolved.The present research is a systematic, analytical and experimental program of study concentrating on those parameters considered to be the most influential on the static and fatigue life of an adhesive bonded single lap joint. The objectives of the program are to better understand the reasons why certain parameters have such a large influence on the structural integrity of the joint. As a result it is hoped that considerable insight will be gained as to static and fatigue life of more complicated joints such as the doable lap, the scarf, and the stepped lap joints. The analytical as well as the experimental static and fatigue test portions of the program are reported on herein.The following parameters, deemed to be the most important, were selected for study: overlap length, adhesive thickness, orientation of the laminae of the laminated adherends (particularly the lamina immediately adjacent to the adhesive), and the effect on the fatigue life of whether or not the mean value of the fatigue load causes maximum stresses above or below the shear proportional limit of the adhesive material.The determination of stresses in the test specimens is made by an analysis method developed in this program.     

Experimental and numerical investigations on fatigue behavior of aluminum alloy 7050-T7451 single lap four-bolted joints

The fatigue behavior of aluminum alloy 7050-T7451 single lap four-bolted joints was studied by high-frequency fatigue test and finite element (FE) methods. The fatigue test results showed that a better enhancement of fatigue life was achieved for the joints with high-locked bolts by employing the combinations of cold expansion, interference fit, and clamping force. The fractography revealed that fatigue cracks propagated tortuously; more fatigue micro-cliffs, tearing ridges, lamellar structure were observed, and fatigue striation spacing was simultaneously reduced. The evaluation of residual stress conducted by FE methods confirmed the experimental results and locations of fatigue crack initiation. The extension of fatigue lives can be attributed to the evolution of fatigue damage and effect of beneficial compressive residual stresses around the hole, resulting in the delay of crack initiation, crack deflection, and plasticity-induced crack closure.     

Prediction of fatigue crack growth and residual life using an exponential model: Part I (constant amplitude loading)

In the present investigation an attempt has been made to introduce a life prediction methodology by adopting an ‘Exponential Model’ that can be used without integration of fatigue crack growth rate curve. The predicted results are compared with experimental crack growth data obtained for 7020-T7 and 2024-T3 aluminum alloy specimens under constant amplitude loading. It is observed that the results obtained from this model are in good agreement with experimental data and cover both stage-II and stage-III of fatigue crack growth curve.     

Prediction of fatigue life of metallic structures with welded joints using automatic learning systems

Welded metallic joints are prone to fatigue damage, which may lead to sudden and catastrophic structural failure. In this research, fatigue failures of metallic structures with welded joints are analyzed using an approach based on automatic learning technology. A database of physics-based parameters, including material properties, loading histories, and stresses around potential cracking sites, is constructed based on experimental results and numerical analyses. Various automatic learning tools are used to search for the mathematical formulas and data patterns embedded in the database. The obtained rules and formulas can be used to support design of welded metallic structures. This approach provides a new way to locate fatigue-prone areas, predict fatigue lives, and may lead to designs of more fatigue resistant structures. It complements the classical deterministic and statistical fatigue failure predictions.     

HOT SPOT STRESS APPROACH TO FATIGUE STRENGTH ANALYSIS OF WELDED COMPONENTS: FATIGUE TEST DATA FOR STEEL PLATE THICKNESSES UP TO 10 MM

Abstract— The use of the hot spot stress approach to the fatigue analysis of welded components is briefly described. Results are presented of fatigue tests on arc welded steel joints (C-Mn and stainless), carried out at Lappeenranta University of Technology between 1980 and 1993, based on the hot spot approach. Based on experimentally-measured hot spot strains, the fatigue capacities of around 100 specimens of C-Mn steel joints, and 80 stainless steel joints, were found to be consistent. The fatigue class FAT 100, or in many cases FAT 112 or higher, can be used as the design hot spot fatigue strength for toe failure of welded joints of moderate thickness, i.e. up to 10 mm. A sharp transition at the fusion zone from the base metal to the weld was clearly shown to be detrimental, leading to a fatigue capacity below average. The log, value of the standard deviation of fatigue life, or the fatigue capacity (Δσ³ N ), was typically 0.13 within a series of C-Mn joints. Statistical analysis of all test data concerning weld toe failure gave a standard deviation of 0.24. By considering all the specimens in one series, a mean fatigue strength of FAT 148, and a characteristic fatigue strength of FAT 107, were obtained.     

Fatigue life prediction of offshore tubular joints using fracture mechanics

ABSTRACT Fatigue crack growth calculations were performed on offshore tubular joints using the Paris crack growth law. The stress intensity factors required for such calculations were obtained from T‐butt solutions previously proposed by the authors. The applicability of the solutions to tubular joints was first demonstrated by comparing the fatigue life of a base case with that obtained from a mean S–N curve, and the influence on fatigue life of various factors including load shedding, the size of initial defects, weld geometry, etc. was investigated. The solutions were then used to predict the lives of tubular T‐joints from an experimental database. The results show that the solutions underestimate the fatigue life; this underestimation was shown to be primarily due to ignoring the combined effects of load shedding and the intersection stress distribution. In general, however, the trends in the predicted fatigue lives with joint geometry and other details were seen to be superior to predictions from the S–N approach, with the solutions significantly reducing the dependency on loading mode exhibited by the test data.     

Investigation of fatigue damage to welded joints under variable amplitude loading spectra

The paper presents the results of the investigation on the effect of loading spectra with different mean stresses on the validity of Miner’s rule, and the effect of stresses below the constant amplitude fatigue limit (CAFL) on the fatigue performance of two types of weld joint. In support of understanding the mechanism for any deficiency to Miner’s rule, fracture mechanics analysis was carried out by measuring and predicting the crack growth in specimens tested under both constant amplitude and variable amplitude loading. The experimental results showed that, although Miner’s rule would predict the same fatigue life for each type of specimens tested under the same spectrum, in fact the actual value of Σ(n/N) at failure strongly depended on the sequence applied. The influence of the loading sequence on Σ(n/N) was in agreement with that on crack growth rates. The deficiency in Miner’s rule was attributed primarily to the stress interaction effects resulting from the type of loading sequence used. The experimental results also showed that, under certain circumstances, stress ranges well below the fatigue limit were found to be as damaging as implied by the S–N curve extrapolated beyond the CAFL without changing the slope. The value of the minimum fully damaging stress range was found to depend on the basic fatigue strength of the weld joint.     

胶层厚度对碳纤维/双马来酰亚胺树脂复合材料平-折-平混合连接接头力学性能的影响

以碳纤维/双马来酰亚胺(BMI)树脂复合材料平-折-平(FJF)连接接头为对象,通过试验对比分析了特定胶层厚度下碳纤维/BMI树脂复合材料FJF连接接头的静强度和疲劳性能,并探究了胶层厚度对碳纤维/BMI树脂复合材料FJF混合接头力学性能的影响。利用背面应变技术对碳纤维/BMI树脂复合材料FJF混合接头搭接区端部胶层开裂进行监测。利用有限元软件ABAQUS对不同胶层厚度下碳纤维/BMI树脂复合材料FJF混合接头搭接区胶层应力分布进行了分析。结果表明,碳纤维/BMI树脂复合材料FJF混合接头的平均拉伸极限载荷、搭接区端部胶层开裂平均循环次数和平均疲劳寿命均随着胶层厚度在0.1~0.3 mm范围内增加而增大。不同胶层厚度的碳纤维/BMI树脂复合材料FJF混合接头均经历相同的失效阶段,即搭接区胶层端部开裂,胶层沿搭接区断裂扩展,最终靠近加载端孔边拉伸断裂,呈±45°断口。随着胶层厚度在0.1~0.3 mm范围的增加,搭接区端部胶层剥离应力、剪切应力及孔边胶层压缩应力均减小。在胶层厚度为0.1~0.3 mm范围内,剪应力是胶层破坏的控制因素。      

Prediction of Process-Induced Distortions in L-Shaped Composite Profiles Using Path-Dependent Constitutive Law

In this paper, the corner spring-in angles of AS4/8552 L-shaped composite profiles with different thicknesses are predicted using path-dependent constitutive law with the consideration of material properties variation due to phase change during curing. The prediction accuracy mainly depends on the properties in the rubbery and glassy states obtained by homogenization method rather than experimental measurements. Both analytical and finite element (FE) homogenization methods are applied to predict the overall properties of AS4/8552 composite. The effect of fiber volume fraction on the properties is investigated for both rubbery and glassy states using both methods. And the predicted results are compared with experimental measurements for the glassy state. Good agreement is achieved between the predicted results and available experimental data, showing the reliability of the homogenization method. Furthermore, the corner spring-in angles of L-shaped composite profiles are measured experimentally and the reliability of path-dependent constitutive law is validated as well as the properties prediction by FE homogenization method.     

A unified fatigue life model based on energy method

A new unified fatigue life model based on the energy method is developed for unidirectional polymer composite laminates subjected to constant amplitude, tension–tension or compression–compression fatigue loading. This new fatigue model is based on static failure criterion presented by Sandhu and substantially is normalized to static strength in fiber, matrix and shear directions. The proposed model is capable of predicting fatigue life of unidirectional composite laminates over the range of positive stress ratios in various fiber orientation angles. By using this new model all data points obtained from various stress ratios and fiber orientation angles are collapsed into a single curve.

The new fatigue model is verified by applying it to different experimental data provided by other researchers. The obtained results by the new fatigue model are in good agreements with the experimental data of carbon/epoxy and E-glass/epoxy of unidirectional plies.     

Fatigue damage of stainless steel diffusion-bonded joints

Vacuum diffusion bonding was carried out on 316L stainless steel. Metallographic inspections and micro-hardness testing were conducted near the interface of diffusion-bonded joints. Fatigue tests were performed to investigate the mechanical performance of diffusion-bonded joints under cyclic loading. Results indicate that, although the static strength of joints closes to that of base metal, fatigue life of the diffusion-bonded joint is markedly lower than that of the base metal. Increments of electrical resistance of specimens were monitored and recorded at different cycles. By taking the electrical resistance as a damage parameter, the evolution of fatigue damage of diffusion-bonded joints was interpreted and the relationship between fatigue life and increments of electrical resistance was established. Overall good agreement between the experimental results and predicted life was obtained which provides confidence in the use of the developed approach for life prediction.     

Fatigue life estimation of ultrasonic spot welded Mg alloy joints

Lightweight magnesium alloys are increasingly used in automotive and other transportation industries for weight reduction and fuel efficiency improvement. The structural application of magnesium components requires proper welding and fatigue resistance to guarantee their durability and safety. The objective of this investigation was to identify failure mode and estimate fatigue life of ultrasonic spot welded (USWed) lap joints of an AZ31B-H24 magnesium alloy. It was observed that the solid-state USWed joints exhibited a superior fatigue life compared with other welding processes. Fatigue failure mode changed from interfacial failure to transverse-through-thickness crack growth with decreasing cyclic load level, depending on the welding energy. Fatigue crack initiation and propagation occurred from both the notch tip inside the faying surface and the edge of sonotrode indentation-footprints due to the presence of stress concentration. A life prediction model for the spot welded lap joints developed by Newman and Dowling was adopted to estimate the fatigue lives of the USWed magnesium alloy joints. The fatigue life estimation, based on the fatigue crack growth model with the global and local stress intensity factors as a function of kink length and the experimentally determined kink angle, agreed fairly well with the obtained experimental results.