On force-deflection diagrams of fibre-metal composites connected by means of bolt joints

The fibre-metal laminates made of a steel plate and fibreglass, carbon, or aramid laminate plate were tested in the special laboratory stands. Epoxy resin and polyester resin were used as a matrix to fabricate the composites. The fibre-metal laminates have very good force versus deflection characteristics and overall mechanical properties. They are very popular and widely applied in technical systems. They can be put to use in connecting materials made of various fabrics, connecting high-number layer laminates, and most of all, connecting metals and laminates. In this paper, the chosen results of testing fibrous composite materials connected in bolt joints are shown. Composite materials reinforced with fibreglass, carbon, and aramid fibres are considered. The impact of the number of applied bolts in a joint on strength properties was investigated. The connections by means of four, eight, or 16 bolts were compared. Some exemplary results were presented with diagrams on force versus deflections and charts on strain or force as a time function.