“…However, the large number of variables within any joint design makes it diffi cult and expensive to test even a small range of joints comprehensively. Therefore many attempts have been made to understand and predict the failure of composite joints using numerical and analytical methods (Camanho and Matthews, 1999;Dano et al , 2000Dano et al , , 2007Icten and Karakuzu, 2002;Okutan, 2002;Tserpes et al , 2002;Okutan and Karakuzu, 2003;Kelly and Hallström, 2004;Icten et al , 2006;Echavarría et al , 2007). Most successful joint modelling has been conducted using detailed fi nite element models with a large number of elements to represent the bolt and the surrounding laminates.…”