ANALYTICAL AND FINITE ELEMENT MODELING OF RIVETED LAP JOINTS IN AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE

摘要

Modeling procedures, using both analytical and numerical methods, for the stress analysis of riveted lap joints in aircraft structure are proposed. In the analytical method, a complex variational approach is employed to determine the stresses in joined plates containing single or multiple loaded holes. The effects of finite geometry are taken into account by the variational formulations. An iterative scheme is carried out to handle the deformation compatibility between all joined members. In the numerical method, finite element analyses are conducted using the commercial packages MSC/PATRAN and MSC/NASTRAN. Gap elements are used to simulate the rivet-hole interactions. Both linear and nonlinear deformations are considered. The two modeling procedures are complementary to each other. Whereas the analytical method is efficient for parametric studies, the numerical method is capable of dealing with relatively more complicated geometry and loading conditions. Results of several example problems are presented, and a good agreement between the two modeling procedures is demonstrated.