Experimental study on pinned joints strength of satin carbon fabric/epoxy composites

The effect of specimen width-to-hole diameter ratio (W/D), and the ratio of edge distance to hole diameter (E/D) on the bearing strength of satin carbon fabric/epoxy composites was performed experimentally. Single-hole pin-loaded specimens were tested for their tension response. Failure propagation and failure type were observed on the specimens. The influence of the joint geometry on the strength of the pin-loaded composites was assessed. The experimental results show that the load capacity of carbon fabric reinforced epoxy laminates with pin connection was increased by increasing W and E. However increasing the E/D ratio beyond 2 and increasing the W/D ratio beyond 3 have an insignificant effect on the load capability of the connection.