Progressive failure modelling of double-lap of composite bolted joints based on Puck’s criterion

Abstract The effect of geometric parameters on failure modes and failure load of T700carbon/epoxy double-lap of composite bolted joints are investigated by numerical and experimental methods in this paper. It is found that the increase of the W (width) of composite bolted joints can significantly increase the failure load of the two types of composite bolted joints and the second stacking sequence’s ([45/0/−45/90] 3s ) composite bolted joints has higher failure load than the first stacking sequence’s ([45 3 /90 3 /−45 3 /0 3 ] s ) composite bolted joints from experimental results. A progressive failure model based on the Puck’s criterion is proposed and cohesive element is used to predict the failure load, failure modes and damage progressive of composite bolted joints, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. In addition, it is found that the model with cohesive elements can successfully capture crack migration.