Experimental and numerical analysis of the mechanical behaviors of large scale composite C-Beams fastened with multi-bolt joints under four-point bending load

• Published in: Composites. Part B, Engineering Vol. 164; pp. 168 - 178
• Main Authors: Zhang, Fa, Zhang, Wei, Hu, Zhendong, Jin, Limin, Jia, Xiwen, Wu, Liwei, Wan, Yumin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2019
• Subjects: Composite C-Beam; Four-point bending; Large scale; Mechanical behaviors; Multi-bolt joints; Composite C-Beam; Mechanical behaviors; Large scale; Multi-bolt joints; Four-point bending
• ISSN: 1359-8368; 1879-1069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.11.058

Quasi-static 4-point bending behaviors and failure characteristics of a large scale composite C-beams fastened with multi-bolt joints were investigated experimentally and numerically. Strain gauge measurement and acoustic emission (AE) monitor system were used to monitor the mechanical response and damage development during loading process. The global and local characteristics of damage are presented and analyzed. A nonlinear numerical model with simplified bolt joints on ABAQUS platform was also established which could be used to efficient analyze the load distribution of bolts and accurately predict the nonlinear response of the composite C-section beams. The numerical results were verified by the experimental results within 10% error. From the finite element (FE) model results, the bolt load distribution and load transfer path were discussed. The results show that the surface skins of the beam take a higher portion of the load than beam web under pure bending load. The beam catastrophic failure is due to the bending load matches the compressive strength of the top composite skin. The FE model is capable to well catch mechanical response details of multi-bolts joint structures for engineers.