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Rice University

Constitutive Modeling of Friction in Bolted Connections

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Bolted joints are ubiquitous in mechanical engineering, requiring accurate models to optimize designs. However, the exact nature of frictional contact between components is unknown and poses a significant challenge to modeling the nonlinear vibration of assemblies. This thesis applies empirical and physics-based modeling approaches to identify improvements to current models and a potential path towards predictive models of friction in bolted joints. The empirical modeling approach solves a multi-objective optimization to fit 26 friction model/interface representation combinations to experimental data and quantify the model form error. While the empirical models are not physical, the optimized results highlight the benefits of using smooth friction models and the limitations of a common physically motivated model. The physics-based model formulates the frictional force based on contact interactions of surface features and derives parameters from surface scans. While the physics-based model is not completely predictive, results show promising agreement with experiments.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Engineering
Grantor
Rice University
Year dc:date.issued
2021

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Porter, Justin H.
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Brake, Matthew R.W.

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/1911/111677
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/111677

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Rice University
Base URL
repository.rice.edu/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Porter, Justin H.. Constitutive Modeling of Friction in Bolted Connections. Masters thesis, Rice University, 2021. https://hdl.handle.net/1911/111677