3D finite element model for the study of the dynamic behaviour of bolted joint self loosening
Résumé
The use of bolted joints is becoming a necessity in many structures, especially in the aeronautical field, since they are easily removed. A problem with bolted joints is their self loosening, which is mainly caused by vibration and becomes more critical in the dynamic case. The use of a detailed bolted joint model, particularly for the poorly understood dynamic problem, demands considerable computational time as such problems require the use of a strategy based on three-dimensional finite element models. This paper studies dynamic bolted joint self loosening when the bolt is subjected to a transverse load. In order to observe the self loosening phenomenon, the screw thread is introduced. The penalty approach is based on the Coulomb model. Results show that, with a detailed three dimensional model, it is possible to study bolted joint self loosening.