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Analysis of widespread fatigue damage in structural joints

Conference ·
OSTI ID:412037
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)

This paper reviews basic research being conducted to determine the onset of widespread fatigue damage found on structural members in aging aircraft. Fretting fatigue studies are being conducted to predict the onset of small cracks at fastener holes or other structural members with contacting surfaces. Experiments and analysis are directed at determining the effect of various parameters such as magnitude of tangential and normal forces transferred, interface friction and rivet patterns on the local contact stresses. Multiaxial fatigue theory then relates the localized stress state to nucleation life. Once regions of multiple site damage (MSD) have formed by fretting (or other sources of cracking), the next goal is to determine the consequences of such MSD on the fatigue life and residual strength of the joint. An elastic model is employed to determine load transfer at various fastener locations in the joint. The analysis accounts for panel thicknesses, fastener patterns and effects of fastener hole cracking on load transfer. A fracture mechanics analysis then incorporates this information to compute the growth, coalescence, and final fracture of MSD in lap joint configurations. Comparisons between analysis and experimental results are provided in the paper.

OSTI ID:
412037
Report Number(s):
CONF-960310--; CNN: Contract F49620-93-0377
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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