Babak Abazadeh

The total fatigue life of double lap bolted aluminum 2024-T3 joints with interference fitted holes have been estimated. The specimens are interference fitted with two levels of 1.5% and 4.7% and bolt clamped applying two tightening torques of 2 and 4 N·m. Also, the fatigue tests were carried out at constant-amplitude, sinusoidal loading at a load frequency of 15 Hz and a load ratio of zero with load ranges between 10 and 18 kN. The fatigue life estimation is carried out in two parts of fatigue crack initiation and fatigue crack growth lives. To do so, the calculated stress (and strain)distributions using finite element simulations were used as initial data in multiaxial fatigue criteria and NASGRO equation to predict the fatigue crack initiation and growth lives respectively. Finally, the total calculated fatigue lives are compared with the available experimental fatigue test results. The results show good agreement between the numerically predicted total fatigue lives and fatigue test results especially for the combination of SWT criterion and NASGRO equation