A model updating method for hybrid composite/aluminum bolted joints using modal test data

The aim of this paper is to present a simple and applicable model for predicting the dynamic behavior of bolted joints in hybrid aluminum/composite structures and its model updating using modal test data. In this regards, after investigations on bolted joints in metallic structures which led to a new concept called joint affected region (JAR) published in Shokrollahi and Adel (2016), now, a doubly connective layer is established in order to simulate the bolted joint interfaces in hybrid structures. Using the proposed model, the natural frequencies of the hybrid bolted joint structure are computed and compared to the modal test results in order to evaluate and verify the new model predictions. Because of differences in the results of two approaches, the finite element (FE) model is updated based on the genetic algorithm (GA) by minimizing the differences between analytical model and test results. This is done by identifying the parameters at the JAR including isotropic Young's modulus in metallic substructure and that of anisotropic composite substructure. The updated model compared to the initial model simulates experimental results more properly. Therefore, the proposed model can be used for modal analysis of the hybrid joint interfaces in complex and large structures.