Fatigue life estimation of bolt clamped and interference fitted-bolt clamped double shear lap joints using multiaxial fatigue criteria

In this paper seven different multiaxial fatigue criteria based on stress, strain and energy were employed to estimate the fatigue lives of double shear lap joint specimens of aluminum 2024-T3 with bolt clamped and interference fitted-bolt clamped fastener holes. Detailed finite element (FE) simulations were conducted to obtain the stress and strain distributions in the joint to be used to as basic data in estimating the fatigue lives using multiaxial fatigue criteria. The estimated lives were compared with available experimental fatigue test results to investigate the capability of the criteria in predicting the fatigue lives. The results showed that the accuracy of life estimation for any criterion varies for different batches of specimens and applied load ranges. However, including the fatigue crack growth life can improve the fatigue estimation life and reduce the absolute error of multiaxial fatigue criteria.

► Interference fitting and bolt clamping a joint create pre-stresses around the hole.
► The accuracy of any fatigue criterion varies for different batches of specimens.
► The SWT criterion gives the most accurate results for bolt clamped specimens.
► Frictional stress in clamped double shear lap joints increases the final fatigue life.
► The overestimations of the criteria can be related to the fretting in the joints.