Abstract
The half-fringe birefringent-coating (HFBC) technique was used to study the effects of geometry on the stress distribution around bolted joints in the laminates of carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). Twelve unijedirectionally-reinforced specimens were tested, with varying ratios of edge distance and laminate width to hole diameter. Experimental results for refining existing analytical and numerical schemes are presented. Stress concentration factors for several locations around the holes are tabulated.