Failure probability of pin joint in CFRP laminate

Composite materials have more scattering properties and complicated fracture modes than conventional metals. Therefore the designs of composite structures are tend to be conservative in deterministic design process. This paper applies a probabilistic approach to pin joints in composite laminates, which combines strength analyses by finite element method and Monte Carlo simulation utilizing Response Surface Method. Frictions between the loading pins and the fastener holes in CFRP laminates are taken account into the FE analyses. Probabilistic strength of the joint is estimated and the probabilistic an d deterministic designs are compared and discussed.