A B S T R A C T In the present work the effect of the nanoclay on the bearing strength and failure mode of the pin joints was investigated both experimentally and numerically. Geometric parameters, i.e. the distance from the free edge of specimen to the diameter of the first hole (E/D) ratio and width of the specimen to the diameter of the holes (W/D) ratio were investigated. The E/D and W/D ratios were varied from 1 to 5. Tsai-Wu failure criterion with characteristic curve method and progressive damage analysis was used for the prediction of failure modes. Results showed that bearing strength and failure mode were considerable affected by the wt% of nanoclay and the geometric parameters. A good agreement was obtained between experimental and numerical predictions.Keywords characteristic curve; failure analysis; glass reinforced; nanoclay; pin joint; progressive damage failure.
N O M E N C L A T U R Es = shear failure strength t = thickness of the specimen B = bearing failure mode D = diameter of the hole E = distance from the free edge of specimen E F = flexural modulus E 1 = longitudinal tensile modulus E 2 = transverse tensile modulus G 12 = shear modulus N = net-tension failure mode R c , R ot , R oc = characteristic curve parameters S = shearing failure mode v 12 = Poisson ratio W = width of the specimen X c = longitudinal compressive strength X t = longitudinal tensile strength Y c = transverse compressive strength Y t = transverse tensile strength ε F = strain to failure θ = failure angle σ b = bearing stress σ F = flexural strength
I N T R O D U C T I O NIn the last decade, composite materials are being commonly used in structures that demand a high level of mechanical performance. Their high strength to weight and stiffness to weight ratios has facilitated the development of lighter structures, which often replace conventional metal structures. Fibre-reinforced composites offer the most reliable engineering materials in automotive, marine and aircraft industrial engineering applications because of their outstanding mechanical properties like impact resistance, high durability, low coefficient of friction and thermal expansion, ability to provide higher