EFFECT OF HOLE CLEARANCE ON BOLT LOADS IN PULTRUDED GRP TENSION JOINTS

摘要

A two-dimensional finite element (FE) model of a two-row single-column bolted tension joint in pultruded glass reinforced plastic (GRP) material is described. The bolt and hole diameters are nominally 10mm, i.e. there is zero clearance. In practice, however, the diameter of the bolt shank is 0.2mm smaller than that of the hole. Hence, one bolt may be out-of-contact with its hole edge when the joint starts to carry load. The FE model is used to analyse three initial bolt/hole contact states: Case 1 - both bolts initially in-contact, Case 2 - second bolt initially out-of-contact and Case 3 - first bolt initially out-of-contact. For Cases 2 and 3 the bolt load distributions are determined for various initial out-of-contact gaps and the tension loads at which the initially out-of-contact bolts start to carry load are evaluated. The implications of these results for joint design are also highlighted.