EXPERIMENTAL STRENGTH OF HYBRID BONDED-BOLTED

JOINT OF WOVEN FABRIC KENAF COMPOSITES

HABIBAH BINTI ABDUL WAHAB, DR. MOHD HILTON BIN AHMAD
DEPARTMENT OF STRUCTURES AND MATERIAL ENGINEEERING, FACULTY OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING,
UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA, 86400 PARIT RAJA JOHOR DARUL TAKZIM

ABSTRACT
Kenaf fibre is a natural fibre that can be used to substituting the uses of fibre such as fibreglass, synthetic and other existing fibre. This
research will determine the experimental strength of hybrid bonded-bolted joint of cross-ply lay-up with different thickness of woven
fabric kenaf testing coupons. The process of kenaf fabrication includes the weaving of kenaf fibre into woven fabric under angle of 0 and
90. The fabrication process includes process of fabricate the kenaf into plates, cutting plates into coupons, hole drilling to prepare the
specimen into desired testing series. Besides that, a comparison on experimental bearing stress at failure of bonded-bolted joint with
only single bolted joint available from literatures will be done. This study analysis the tensile strength and load transfer in single-lap
joints of various W/d ratio (W/d=2, 3, 4 and 5). This research had proved that the increasing of W/d ratio and thinner testing coupons
gives larger bearing stress at failures of the testing coupons. Besides that, this research also showed that which the stress at failures in
hybrid joints are slightly increased compared to single bolted joint.
More recently, implementations of natural fibres in composite
manufacturing have drawn tremendous attention among
material engineers and scientists as it is renewable,
Project start
sustainable and environmental friendly. As the world society
are pushing towards producing sustainable environment,
Literature survey on
research on natural fibres in composite material has been
related topics
aggressively carried out to study the potential of these
materials as an alternative fibres to low load bearing synthetic
Weaving of kenaf fibre using
reinforcing fibres such as glass fibres. Previous study on bolted
weaving handloom
joint strength of cross-ply lay-up woven kenaf composites were
Fabrication of kenaf
carried out by Mohamed Aden Ibrahim (2014) and he found
composites panels
bearing stress at failure were directly proportionate to plate
coupon thickness. Current project extended his work by to
Cutting the panels into testing
adhesive bonded-bolted joints of similar lay-ups. The testing
coupons
coupons will be prepared in different layups and plate
Hole drilling and surface
thicknesses and mechanical testing will be conducted
preparation for adhesive
thereafter following the available code of practice.

METHODOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

bonding
Joining the testing coupons
to single-lap hybrid
bolted/bonded joints
configurations

OBJECTIVES

(i)To determine the experimental strength of hybrid

bonded-bolted joint of cross-ply lay - up with different
thickness of woven fabric kenaf specimen.

Mechanical testing
Results and
Discussions
Conclusi
on

(ii) To compare the experimental bearing stress at

failure of bonded-bolted joint with only single bolted
joint available from literatures.

RESULTS
Comparison between bolted and hybrid joints for (0/90)s lay-up

(0/90)s laminate two layer

Bearing Stress, b

160

160

140

140

120

120

100

100

80

80

Bearing stress, b (N/mm)

60

60

40

40

20

20

0
1

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

5.5

Bolted
Joint

0
1

Hybrid
Joint

1.5

2.5

(0/90)2s laminate four layer

160

140

140

120

120

100

100

80

Bearing stress, b (N/mm)

60

40

40

20

20

0
2

2.5

3.5

5.5

4.5

5.5

Bolted
Joint

80

60

1.5

4.5

Comparison between bolted and hybrid joints for (0/90)2s lay-up

160

W/d

W/d

Bearing Stress, b

3.5

0
1

Hybrid
Joint

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

5.5

W/d
W/d

CONCLUSION

Current project has successfully achieved the outset of the objectives which is given as follows: The first objective of current project is to
determine the experimental strength of woven fabric kenaf composites using hybrid bonded-bolted. Failure mode from testing series under
investigation showed that all testing coupons were failed in net-tension failures. It was found that increased W/d and thinner testing coupons
gives larger bearing stress at failures. Stress transfer in joining thicker plates are reduced as subjected to clamping force resulting to lower
bearing stress at failure. Load-displacement profile is analysed and four major stages occurred during mechanical testing is suggested, i.e.,
adhesive failure, no slip, slip and failure load stages.
In second objective, a comparison has been made with single bolted joints obtained from literatures, which the stress at failures in hybrid
joints are slightly increased compared to single bolted joints, but critical W/d is increased to exhibit more net-tension occurred. It is suggested
that the effect of secondary bending in single bolted joints is more significant than hybrid joints due to existence of adhesive layer at the
lapping region. However, this study needs to be explored further in future works.

REFERENCES

Ahmad, H., (2012). Finite Element-based Strength Prediction for Notched and Mechanically Fastened Woven Fabric Composites, Ph.D. Dissertation, Division of Mechanical, Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom.
Broughton, W. R., Crocker, L.E. and Gowel, M.R.L. (2002). Design requirements for Bonded and Bolted Composite Structure. NPL Materials Centre, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex.
Hossam, E.M.S., (2004), Structural Joints In Polymeric Composite Materials, Materials Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Zagaziq University.
Manger, C.I.C. (1999) Failure of Notched Woven GFRP Composites : Damage Analysis and Strength Modelling, University of Surrey, Ph.D. Thesis.
Mohamed I.A., (2014). Strength of Bolted Joints in Woven Kenaf Fibre Composites Incorporating With Different Thickness. Degree Thesis. University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. Belmonte H.M.S. (2002)
Notched Strength of Woven Fabric Composites. University of Surrey, Ph.D. Thesis.
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Thesis..
Wei, H.L. and Ming-Hwa, R.J. (1998). The Strength of Bolted and Bonded Single-Lapped Composite Joint in Tension. Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 33, No. 7/1999, pp. 640-662.