Finite element modeling of the contact of elements preloaded with a bolt and externally loaded with any force

• Published in: Journal of computational and applied mathematics Vol. 393; p. 113534
• Main Author: Grzejda, Rafał
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Bolted connection; Contact joint; Finite element method; Non-linearity; Preload; Finite element method; Bolted connection; Non-linearity; Preload; Contact joint
• ISSN: 0377-0427; 1879-1778
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cam.2021.113534

The subject of the paper is numerical tests of the contact of a pair of elements joined with a bolt and externally loaded with an arbitrary force. In the modeling, non-linear phenomena occurring in the contact zone of such elements for both the preloading and operating conditions of the connection were taken into account. The finite element method was used for creating the physical and mathematical models of the bolted connection. The connection was treated as a system composed of subsystems, which include: a bolt fastener, two joined elements and a contact layer between these elements. Each of the subsystems can be modeled separately and using different methods. In the modeling of the contact layer between the joined elements, different values of contact stiffness coefficients for individual contact elements of this layer were taken into consideration. This approach is new compared to many examples of modeling using standard finite elements, in which it is possible to assign only constant contact stiffness coefficient for a given contact element on the contact surface. Calculations described in the paper were carried out using a finite element software, supplemented with additional procedures. Their sample results for the selected bolted connection were given.