Failure response of single bolted composite joints under various preload

In this study, an experimental failure analysis is performed to calculate bearing strength of single bolted joints in laminated composites reinforced unidirectional glass fibers. The main goal of this study is to determine the failure behaviour of bolted composite joints under various preload moments as 0, 2.5 and 5 Nm. Furthermore, two different geometrical parameters that are the edge distance-to-hole diameter ratio (E/D) and plate width-to-hole diameter ratio (W/D) are investigated. For that reason, E/D and W/D ratios are selected from 1 to 5 and from 2 to 5, respectively. Besides, the effect of orientation angle of laminated plates is considered. Therefore, four different ply orientations are selected as [30°]4, [45°]4, [60°]4 and [90°]4. The experimental results show that the magnitudes of bearing strengths in single bolted composite joints are strictly influenced from increasing value of applied preload moments, changing of W/D and E/D ratios and also ply orientations.