Investigations on the fretting fatigue failure mechanism of bolted joints in high strength steel subjected to different levels of pre-tension

Abstract Bolted connections are widely used as an effective joining method with higher fatigue strength than equivalent welded and riveted joints. The fretting fatigue problem caused by components in contact subjected simultaneously to fluctuating loads and relative small movements is of special importance in the vicinity of bolted joints. In the present paper, a series of fatigue tests on bolted connections using moderately thick plates made of high strength steel S500MC carried out using different pre-tension levels is described. It was shown that fretting fatigue decreased when a higher pre-tension force is used. In addition, a 3D finite element model was built to assess the stress gradient in the connection and several multiaxial criteria were used to determine the location of the initial crack. These numerical results were correlated to the experimental results and showed acceptable predictions.

[1]  Guanlong Chen,et al.  Use of high strength steel sheet for lightweight and crashworthy car body , 2003 .

[2]  Mohammad Zehsaz,et al.  Investigation of bolt clamping force on the fatigue life of double lap simple bolted and hybrid (bolted/bonded) joints via experimental and numerical analysis , 2014 .

[3]  D. Hills,et al.  On the mechanics of fretting fatigue , 1988 .

[4]  A. Fatemi,et al.  A CRITICAL PLANE APPROACH TO MULTIAXIAL FATIGUE DAMAGE INCLUDING OUT‐OF‐PHASE LOADING , 1988 .

[5]  M. Hirsch,et al.  Fretting damage in thin sheets: Analysis of an experimental configuration , 2011 .

[6]  Hans-Peter Günther,et al.  High‐strength steel fillet welded connections , 2008 .

[7]  Kenji Hirakawa,et al.  Fundamental Investigations of Fretting Fatigue : Part 3, Some Phenomena and Mechanisms of Surface Cracks , 1968 .

[8]  Ram Puthli,et al.  Investigations on bolted connections for high strength steel members , 2001 .

[9]  Primož Može,et al.  Investigation of high strength steel connections with several bolts in double shear , 2011 .

[10]  C. Navarro,et al.  On the use of multiaxial fatigue criteria for fretting fatigue life assessment , 2008 .

[11]  Mohammad Zehsaz,et al.  PREDICTION OF FATIGUE LIFE IN AIRCRAFT DOUBLE LAP BOLTED JOINTS USING SEVERAL MULTIAXIAL FATIGUE CRITERIA , 2014 .

[12]  Jeffrey Vogwell,et al.  Effect of torque tightening on the fatigue strength of bolted joints , 2006 .

[13]  H. Goto,et al.  Behaviors of Frictional Force in Fretting Fatigue , 1973 .

[14]  Primož Može,et al.  High strength steel tension splices with one or two bolts , 2010 .

[15]  Hubert W. Schreier,et al.  Image Correlation for Shape, Motion and Deformation Measurements: Basic Concepts,Theory and Applications , 2009 .

[16]  E. Gogou.  Use of High Strength Steel Grades for Economical Bridge Design , 2012 .

[17]  C. Ruiz,et al.  An investigation of fatigue and fretting in a dovetail joint , 1984 .

[18]  M. Wahab,et al.  Prediction of fretting fatigue crack initiation and propagation lifetime for cylindrical contact configuration , 2014 .

[19]  I. R. McColl,et al.  Finite element simulation and experimental validation of fretting wear , 2004 .

[20]  M. Nesládek,et al.  Fretting fatigue – Experimental and numerical approaches , 2012 .

[21]  M. Wahab,et al.  Numerical Estimation of Fretting Fatigue Lifetime Using Damage and Fracture Mechanics , 2013, Tribology Letters.

[22]  Gang Shi,et al.  Recent research advances of high strength steel structures and codification of design specification in China , 2014 .

[23]  M. Wahab,et al.  Numerical Investigation into the Effect of Contact Geometry on Fretting Fatigue Crack Propagation Lifetime , 2012 .

[24]  Godwin Kwame Ahiale,et al.  Microstructure and fatigue performance of butt-welded joints in advanced high-strength steels , 2014 .

[25]  Mir Jalil Razavi,et al.  On the Variation of Clamping Force in Bolted Double Lap Joints Subjected to Longitudinal Loading: A Numerical and Experimental Investigation , 2012 .

[26]  Magd Abdel Wahab,et al.  Finite Element Analysis of Localized Plasticity in Al 2024-T3 Subjected to Fretting Fatigue , 2012 .

[27]  Bernt Johansson,et al.  Design of hybrid steel girders , 2004 .

[28]  Darrell F. Socie,et al.  Multiaxial Fatigue Damage Models , 1987 .

[29]  Shankar Mall,et al.  Investigation into three-dimensional effects of finite contact width on fretting fatigue , 2005 .

[30]  Daniel J. Thomas.  Characteristics of abrasive waterjet cut-edges and the affect on formability and fatigue performance of high strength steels , 2009 .

[31]  B. Johansson,et al.  Bridges in high strength steel , 2006 .

[32]  Wim De Waele,et al.  On the use of digital image correlation for slip measurement during coupon scale fretting fatigue experiments , 2014 .

[33]  Mohammad Zehsaz,et al.  Investigating the effect of clamping force on the fatigue life of bolted plates using volumetric approach , 2013 .

[34]  Jaime Domínguez,et al.  Cyclic variations in friction forces and contact stresses during fretting fatigue , 1998 .

[35]  Reza Hojjati-Talemi,et al.  Prediction of fretting fatigue crack initiation in double lap bolted joint using Continuum Damage Mechanics , 2015 .

[36]  M. Benguediab,et al.  Effect of clamping force on fretting fatigue behaviour of bolted assemblies: Case of couple steel–aluminium , 2010 .

[37]  Ping Zhu,et al.  Lightweight design of automobile component using high strength steel based on dent resistance , 2006 .

[38]  Sean B. Leen,et al.  Finite element, critical-plane, fatigue life prediction of simple and complex contact configurations , 2005 .

[39]  Magd Abdel Wahab,et al.  Fretting fatigue crack initiation lifetime predictor tool: Using damage mechanics approach , 2013 .