Bearing failure optimization of composite double-lap bolted joints based on a three-step strategy marked by feasible region reduction and model decoupling

Abstract

To minimize the mass and increase the bearing failure load of composite double-lap bolted joints, a three-step optimization strategy including feasible region reduction, optimization model decoupling and optimization was presented. In feasible region reduction, the dimensions of the feasible design region were reduced by selecting dominant design variables from numerous multilevel parameters by sensitivity analyses, and the feasible regions of variables were reduced by influence mechanism analyses. In model decoupling, the optimization model with a large number of variables was divided into various sub-models with fewer variables by variance analysis. In the third step, the optimization sub-models were solved one by one using a genetic algorithm, and the modified characteristic curve method was adopted as the failure prediction method. Based on the proposed optimization method, optimization of a double-lap single-bolt joint was performed using the ANSYS® code. The results show that the bearing failure load increased by 13.5% and that the mass decreased by 8.7% compared with those of the initial design of the joint, which validated the effectiveness of the three-step optimization strategy.