Effects of hot/wet environments on the fatigue behaviour of composite-to-metal mechanically fastened joints
- DSTO Aeronautical Research Lab., Fishermens Bend, Victoria (Australia). Airframes and Engines Division
- DSTO Materials Research Lab., Ascot Vale, Victoria (Australia). Ship Structures and Materials Division
Because of their high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composite laminates are seeing increasing use, especially in the aerospace industry. In composite-to-metal structures the load transfer between various components is undertaken by the use of mechanically fastened or bonded joints. For example, on the F/A-18 aircraft, numerous composite-to-metal mechanically fastened joints are used to transfer loads from the thick composite wing skin to the metal wing ribs and spars. Previous work, undertaken at ARL, has investigated the fatigue of such joints under ambient conditions. It is widely known that the mechanical properties of CFRP laminates generally degrade considerably under hot/wet environments. A similar degradation is expected for mechanically fastened laminates. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hot/wet environments on the fatigue behavior of specific mechanically fastened joints. Results showed a marked decrease in the fatigue life of the composite-to-metal mechanically fastened joints under hot/wet environments when compared to lives attained at ambient and under similar load conditions. The major joint failure mode was failure of the fasteners. Other failure modes were compression failure of the 0{degree} ply layers and delamination growth.
- OSTI ID:
- 143584
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930246-; ISBN 0-87339-251-5; TRN: IM9413%%94
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Advanced composites `93: international conference on advanced composite materials (ICACM), Wollongong (Australia), 15-19 Feb 1993; Other Information: PBD: 1993; Related Information: Is Part Of Advanced composites 1993; Chandra, T. [ed.] [Univ. of Wollongong (Australia)]; Dhingra, A.K. [ed.] [DuPont, Wilmington, DE (United States)]; PB: 1464 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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