Asymptotic analysis of the load transfer on double-lap bolted joints

This work is devoted to the problem of the load transfer on double-lap bolted joints. For this purpose, the in-plane deformations of the plates involved in the joint are investigated within the framework of the complex potential method and the method of compound asymptotic expansions. First, the relative radius of the holes is introduced as a small parameter. Then, an asymptotic expansion of the complex potentials in terms of this small parameter is constructed. This expansion is uniformly valid in the whole domain, i. e. in the vicinity of the holes as well as in the far-field. Finally, this result is used to evaluate several practically relevant parameters such as the compliance of an infinite row of bolts or the load distribution on several bolts. The major advantage of the proposed method is that it leads to closed-form approximations that can easily be used by engineers in the industrial environment.