Fatigue analysis and design of arc-welded and laser-welded lap joints: Toe vs. root induced failure

Fatigue might be the governing limit state in marine structures mainly induced by the waves and wind. Therefore, using a lap joint for the shell plating to replicate the appearance of a riveted joint for a retro yacht is critical due to the limited fatigue resistance. For this joint type cracks initiated at the root, which should always be...

Steel 3D printing for structures: An explorative study on the tear-out strength of a pin or bolt in a Wire and Arc Additively Manufactured carbon steel plate

Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is emerging as a technology for different applications made of steel. It is expected that in the coming years the construction industry will benefit from the free and lightweight forms that can be fabricated and the possible material savings. A few experimental results of 3D printed stainless steel...

Damage progression on fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) adhesively bonded single lap joints (ABSLJ) under quasi-static tension: Implementation of a 3D continuum damage model in UMAT to predict: global behavior, damage initiation and propagation until final failure, for different adherend layup configurations

Adhesively bonded joints have proven to outperform their mechanically fastened joint counterparts, as they present a more structurally efficient method of load transfer, lower stress concentrations and better fatigue performance at reduced weight. In the specific case of the Adhesively Bonded Single Lap Joint (ABSLJ), bending-induced stresses...

Composite layup effect on the failure mechanism of single lap bonded joints

Single lap bonded joints with four different composite adherend stacking sequences were tested and numerically simulated. The aim was to evaluate the effect of the layups on the quasi-static tensile failure of the bonded joints. The study shows that increasing the adherends bending stiffness postpones the damage initiation in the joint....

Digital Fabrication of a Timber Bridge: Design, optimisation, fabrication and testing at global and connection level

Rapid developments of both new (digital) fabrication techniques and innovative software facilitate the possibility to design, check and construct objects with great complexity and uniqueness without a large price tag. After new techniques slowly entered the field of architecture, the next step is to apply them in civil engineering to design load...

The behaviour of steel bonded joints under creep and hygrothermal loadings

This thesis takes an initial step in the research on the long term behaviour of composite-to-metal bonds that are loaded under hygrothermal conditions. It focuses on the response and behaviour of the adhesive in these bonds under moisture and loading. The thesis is inconclusive on the effect of loading on the water uptake. The load level and...

An experimental and analytical investigatin on the fatigue behaviour of fuselage riveted lap joints

Ageing aircraft research in The Netherlands

The problems of Ageing Aircraft are worldwide. Hence, actions to overcome or prevent these problems should be taken in international collaboration. The Federal Aviation Administration FAA and the Netherlands Civil Aviation Department RLD have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the area of structural integrity, with specific reference to...

The static strenght of mechanically fastened carbon-epoxy joints without bending

The mechanical behaviour of mechanically fastened double lap carbon-epoxy joints has been investigated both by experiments (static tests) and by analysis. Several fastener types and joint geometries has been investigated. In the experimental programme the Fibredux 6376/T400H material was used. Two methods to analyze mechanically fastened...

Fatigue Rated Fastener Systems: an AGARD coordinated testing programme

The report contains the description, results and conclusions of a fatigue test programme which assessed the fatigue lives of fastener systems using different joints. High load transfer single shear joints were evaluated in a core programme; secondary bending and load transfer were determined experimentally. About 750 specimens were fatigue...

Constant-amplitude and flight-simulation fatigue tests on adhesive bonded lap joint specimens of 2024-T3 sheet material

Fatigue tests were carried out on Redux and FM 123/5 bonded specimens at various stress levels, temperatures (RT to 65 C) and low and high test frequencies. Observations were made on the type of failure (bond line failure or sheet failure) and the significance of the adhesive squeezeout for crack nucleation. An analysis of the data and a...

The use of Arall in fuselage skins

The report starts with a general review of the loading of transport aircraft fuselages and the consequent fuselage skin stresses Taking the F-28 fuselage as an example, the potential weight savings that can be obtained by using ARALL as skin material are assessed. The report ends with conclusions and recommendations

Effect of penetrant on fatigue of aluminium alloy lap joints

The effect of penetrant on the fatigue life of single shear riveted lap joints was investigated by flight simulation fatigue tests using the MINITWIST gust spectrum. The penetrant/material combination investigated was ARDROX 985 P3T and aluminium alloy 202U-T3 sheet material (both bare and clad) respectively. The effect of penetrant on the...

Application of finite element methods to the analysis of cracks: final report

The applicability of finite element methods to the analysis of cracks was studied in three phases. In the first phase the available methods for the calculation of elastic stress intensity data for cracks of arbitrary shape using finite element techniques were evaluated. The indirect energy release method using virtual crack front variation was...