Publications Details

Fastener modeling effects on fatigue predictions for mock hardware in a random vibration environment

Ross, Michael R.; Murphy, Andrew W.; Stevens, B.L.

There are several methodologies for modeling fasteners in finite element analyses. This work examines the effect of four predominant fastener modeling methods regarding the fatigue of mock hardware that requires fasteners. Typical fastener modeling methods explored in this work consist of a spring method with no preload, a beam method with no preload, a beam method with a preload, and a solid model representation of the fastener with preload. It is found that the different fastener modeling methods produce slightly different fatigue damage predictions, and that this uncertainty in modeling is insignificant as compared to uncertainty in input. Consequently, any of these methods are considered appropriate. In order to make this assertion, multiaxial fatigue methods are investigated and a proportional method is used because of a biaxiality metric.