Progressive Failure Analysis of Composite/aluminum Riveted Joint Subjected to Pull-through Loading

Abstract

\n The progressive failure mechanism of composite/aluminum riveted joint subjected to pull-through loading was investigated by experiments and finite element method. The pull-through tests were conducted and its load-displacement responses were analysed. A progressive damage model based on the Hashin-type criteria and zero-thickness cohesive zone method was developed by VUMAT subroutine, which was validated by both open-hole tensile test and three-point bending test. Load-displacement response, failure modes and damage propagation were analysed and compared with the experimental results. Major conclusions: 1) there are 4 obvious characteristic stages on the load-displacement curve: first load take-up stage, damage stage, second load take-up stage and failure stage; 2) relative error of stiffness, first load peak and second load peak between finite element method and experiments were 8.1%, -3.3% and 10.6%, respectively; 3) specimen was mainly broken by rivet-penetration fracture and delamination of plies of the composite laminate; 4) the material within the scope of the rivet head is more dangerous with more serious tensile damages than other regions, especially for 90° plies.