Stiffness and slip laws for threaded fasteners subjected to a transversal load

Abstract

This article focuses on improving the design methods for simplified models of screwed connections (spring, beam or bar elements), especially for the space sector. A detailed 3D model of a generic screwed connection has been developed using industrial finite elements (FE) software. An approach based on multiscale numerical designs of experiments (DOE) was used to obtain metamodels of stiffness and slip depending on geometric, material and contact parameters. In order to improve the integration of friction, an existing contact model was adapted and used to supply a modified Coulomb model. Metamodels from these numerical works were compared and correlated with experimental double shear tests on a specimen loaded by an imposed transverse displacement.