The Effect of Drilling Damage on Bearing Strength of Graphite/Epoxy Composites

An experimental approach is used to determine the effect of drilling damage on bearing stress of graphite/epoxy composite laminates. An improvement in bearing stress was achieved by placing an aluminum plate contiguous to exit plane and by applying pressure around the hole through a specially made pressure device at the entrance plane. It was also shown that the bearing stress varied with the fiber direction. The bearing stress was maximum in the 45 degree direction.