Progressive failure analysis of glass-epoxy laminated composite pinned-joints

In this paper, the damage development process of glass-epoxy laminated composite pinned-joints is investigated. To determine the effects of joint geometry and stacking sequence on the bearing strength and damage mode, experimental studies were carried out. Two different geometrical parameters which are the edge distance-to-hole diameter ratio (E/D) and plate width-to hole diameter ratio (W/D) were considered. Hence, E/D and W/D ratios were selected from 1 to 5 and 2 to 5, respectively. By observing the effect of material parameters on damage development, composite laminated plates were stacked as two different orientations, [0 degrees/90(2)degrees/0 degrees](s) and [0 degrees/90 degrees](2s). A total of 144 specimens with nine different geometries were tested to obtain the experimental strength and failure mode. Damage progression was examined by using scanning electron microscopy on specimens loaded to ultimate failure and to percentages of their ultimate failure load. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.