EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF WRAPPED COMPOSITE X-JOINTS UNDER MONOTONIC UNIAXIAL AND MULTI-AXIAL LOAD CONDITIONS

Wrapped composite joints excel as an alternative to welded joints, exhibiting superior static and fatigue performance. This paper presents an experimental investigation into the failure mechanisms and load-bearing capacity of wrapped composite joints under multi-axial monotonic loading. The study aims to explore the effectiveness of wrapped composite joints in resisting multi-axial loads and gain insight into failure modes. Results reveal exceptional resistance to uniaxial tension, bending, and multi-axial tension+bending. Failure modes include interfacial debonding, delamination, composite fracture, and steel yielding. Strain monitoring via Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and embedded optical fibers confirms these findings, highlighting significant multi-axial loading resistance.