CRACKS EMANATING FROM PIN-LOADED LUGS

Pin-loaded lugs were analysed in the presence of cracks emanating from circular holes. The analysis presents a unified treatment of interfer ence, push or clearance fit pins. Both metallic (isotropic) and compos ite (orthotropic) plates were dealt with. The finite element model use d special singular six-noded quadrilateral elements at the crack tip. The non-linear load contact behaviour at the pin-hole interface was de alt with by an inverse technique. A modified crack closure integral (M CCI) technique was used to evaluate the strain energy release rates (S ERRs) and stress intensity factors (SIFs) at the crack tips. Numerical results are presented showing the non-linear variation of SIF with ap plied stress, and the influence of the amount of interference or clear ance and the interfacial friction on SIF.