Fatigue enhancement by interference-fit in a pin-loaded glass fibre-reinforced plastics laminate

Abstract

Bearing strength and fatigue life of pin-loaded glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GFRP) with various interference-fit ( I) percentages are experimentally investigated. Stainless steel pins with interference-fits ranging from 0 per cent to 2 per cent are inserted into vacuum infusion-processed GFRP. After pin installation, damage in the composite hole is observed. The quasi-static and fatigue properties of the pin-loaded composites with interference-fits ( I = 0.6 per cent, 1 per cent, and 2 per cent) are then compared to samples with transition-fit ( I = 0 per cent). The experimental results showed that interference-fit of 0.6 per cent and 1 per cent improved bearing strength slightly and fatigue life significantly when compared with transition-fit of 0 per cent. Bearing strength was decreased with 2 per cent interference-fit due to GFRP damage induced during pin installation. The sample with I = 0.6 per cent attains the longest fatigue life and provides the most reliable results, with the least amount of scatter.