A novel model to predict the stiffness of single-lap multi-bolt composite joints

In this research, a new finite element based model is presented to predict the stiffness of single-lap multi-bolt composite joints. The model uses stiffness of a single-lap single-bolt joint and geometrical parameters such as thickness, length, width of composite laminates and diameter and number of bolts. First, a numerical model was proposed by ABAQUS finite element software to calculate stiffness of a single-lap single-bolt composite joint. Then, using the stiffness of the single-lap single-bolt composite, material and geometrical parameters of multi-bolt joint, the stiffness of the singlelap multi-bolt composite joint was calculated. By comparing the results of the proposed model with experimental and numerical data, it was observed that the new model estimates the stiffness of the single-lap multi-bolt joint with a very good accuracy. The maximum error of the model is about six percent