Experimental and Numerical Investigations of the Effect of Bolt Position on the Mixed-Mode Fracture Strength of Edge Crack Specimens

Experimental and numerical investigations were conducted to evaluate the effect of bolt position along the crack length on the mixed-mode fracture strength and effective stress intensity geometry/loading factor. The experimental tests were carried out on different batches of torque-tightened edge crack specimens, including those with bolts at different distances from the crack tip and simple (without bolt) ones. Finite-element simulations were employed to find the stress intensity geometry factors. The results showed a considerable increase in the fracture strength and a reduction of stress intensity factors in specimens with a bolt positioned closer to the crack tip. (c) 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.