Numerical analysis of joints in composite materials

Composite materials are widely employed in the aerospace, automotive and nautical sectors. One of the most critical aspects in composite assemblies is the design of joints, which often governs the overall structural performance. For this reason, current research efforts are increasingly focusing on understanding and improving the behaviour of composite joints. This thesis investigates the applicability of linear static analysis to different types of composite joints, with a specific focus on threaded inserts and bolted connections. Numerical simulations are performed to assess whether a linear–elastic approach can provide useful insights in early design stages. The results show that linear analysis can reasonably approximate the global stiffness of the joints, but it fails to capture damage initiation and evolution. Despite these limitations, linear static analysis remains a useful tool when components are expected to operate within the elastic regime and stresses remain well below material strength. Overall, the study highlights the potential of linear analysis as a fast preliminary design method, while also emphasizing the need for more advanced modelling to predict failure behaviour.