Numerical analysis on tensile properties of composite hybrid bonded/bolted joints with flanging

A detailed study was carried out on the tensile properties of the single-lap joint of a steel panel bolted/bonded to a composite laminate with a flanging. Finite element model (FEM) was established to predict the strength and to analyze the damage propagation of the hybrid joints by ABAQUS/Standard, which especially adopted cohesive elements to simulate the interface between the laminate and adhesive. The strength and failure mode predicted by FEM were in good agreement with the experimental results. In addition, three influence factors including adhesive thickness, bolt preload and bolt-hole clearance were studied. The results show that the three parameters have effect on the first drop load of the load-displacement curve, but the effect of bolt-hole clearance is the largest. The bolt-hole clearance should be avoided for hybrid joints.