Fibre Metal Laminates (FMLs) are a hybrid metal-composite laminate technology known for their superior resistance to fatigue crack growth compared to monolithic metals. This crack growth behaviour has been the subject of many studies, resulting in numerous empirical and analytical models to describe the complex damage growth phenomenon in the material. This study builds upon the analytical Alderliesten crack growth prediction methodology for FMLs, extending it from a tension loaded plate to a case of a combined tension-pin loaded plate. This new loading case is a more representative case to utilise for predicting fatigue crack growth behaviour in mechanically fastened joints. Development of the model extension and validation through experimental testing are detailed within this paper.

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This paper provides an experimental investigation into the pin loading effects on the crack growth behaviour in Fibre Metal Laminates. The pin loading effects and bypass loading effects are incorporated in two different tested joints. The analysis of the test results shows that pin loading dominates the crack growth only in the vicinity of the pin hole and the superposition method for analysing stress intensity factor in FMLs with pin loading effects can be applied. @en