Fatigue Study of Composite Lug
摘要
Lugs are specialized pin joints utilized in connecting various load-bearing structures, such as mechanical systems and aircraft structures, which endure cyclic loading primarily at their pin-hole interfaces. This combination of high stress concentration can lead to crack initiation and propagation, highlighting the increasing importance of fatigue studies on lugs for overall structural integrity. Recently, composite materials have gained popularity due to their differing fatigue degradation nature compared to metallic components, with fiber-reinforced composites exhibiting less deterioration in bearing capacity under cyclic loading conditions. This study focuses on evaluating the crack initiation and propagation life of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) lug specimens using a fracture mechanics-based Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) approach. A numerical iterative method is employed to determine the final crack length, incorporating strain energy release rate through Virtual Crack Closure Technique (VCCT) using Ansys Workbench, and applying Paris's law to estimate propagation life. This analysis contributes to predicting specimen initiation life, revealing that CFRP lugs demonstrate high durability even in challenging conditions. These findings suggest opportunities for enhancing their performance and indicate their potential for use in load-bearing applications, potentially offering superior properties for specific needs.