Optimizing the Design Parameters and Nanoclay Content of Thin GLARE Laminate Riveted Joints under Pull-Through Test Using Grey Relational Analysis

The study investigates the optimization of design parameters of riveted joints such as diameter of rivet, edge distance, and the amount of nanoclay filler in the modified GLARE laminate single lap riveted joints under pull-through test. Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array was used to plan the experiments. The failure mechanism of riveted joints was observed to be elongation of rivet hole, followed by stress concentration, crack initiation, propagation in the interface, coalition of multiple cracks leading to delamination in the laminate. The failure of joint finally occurred by rivet pin fracture. The regression equations were developed for both failure load and maximum displacements with prominent level of confidence and the reliability of the equations were confirmed by experiments. The effect of individual and interaction of factors was evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The grey relational analysis (GRA) was conducted to determine the optimum combination of factors and levels. The GRA predicted the combination of factors and levels as “A3 (Diameter of rivet – 6.4 mm) -B3 (Edge distance – 35 mm) -C3 (Nanoclay wt.% - 5).”