Strain rate effects on the mechanical behavior of single-lap glass/carbon nanofiber/epoxy composite bolted joints

In the present research, effects of applying strain rate on the mechanical behavior of single-lap glass/CNF/epoxy composite bolted joints including, damage initiation bearing stress, 2% offset bearing strength, ultimate bearing strength, bearing chord stiffness, ultimate bearing strain, and energy absorption were studied. To this end, a comprehensive experimental program was conducted. The protruding head bolt was used, the clearance was considered to be near fit and a finger-tight bolt condition was applied to all joints. The dimensions of joints were chosen to promote the bearing failure mode based on the ASTM standard. Four types of single-lap bolted joints (SLJs) with lay-ups of [–45/0/45/90] s and [90/–45 2 /45] s with and without CNFs were tested at strain rates in the range of 0.0048 s −1 to 0.89 s −1 . Unlike the available experimental results, the results obtained by the present experiments showed that the strain rate has a significant effect on all the above-mentioned mechanical parameters of SLJs. Also, it was shown that employing CNFs improved the mechanical parameters of SLJs under quasi-static and dynamic strain rates.