LAUSR

Abstract This paper innovatively proposed a semi-analytical modeling method for thin-walled cylindrical shells with bolted joints, and further analyzed its vibration response and the interface contact state. First, the bolted joint was investigated by quasi-static experiments. Then, based on the experimental phenomena, the constitutive model for bolted joints was established by simultaneously considering the different tensile and compressive stiffness (preloaded bilinear stiffness) and the friction behavior (including stick, slip, and separation) between the connection interfaces. This is rare in the previous modeling of bolted joints. Next, the established model of bolted joints was applied to a cylindrical shell. Based on Sanders shell theory, the Lagrange equation was used to derive the dynamic equation of the cylindrical shell with bolted joints. The model of the bolted joint and the cylindrical shell was verified by finite element method and natural frequency comparison respectively. Then, the effects of several parameters including the preload of bolts, excitation amplitude, coefficient of friction and number of bolts on the dynamic response and interface state of the cylindrical shell with bolted joints were analyzed, and several conclusions were obtained.