Numerical Study on the Structural Behaviour of a Solid Propellant Rocket Motor Bolted Flange Joint Under Internal Pressurization

In this work, the effect of the finite element modeling techniques of the partially-threaded fastener on the structural response of a solid propellant rocket motor bolted flange joint under internal pressurization loading was studied by utilizing nonlinear static structural finite element analyses covering bolt pretension effects. Four different modeling techniques built by three-dimensional elements were introduced, and three of them were compared with the reference technique which threaded connection was simulated by modeling the mating threads. Bolt force and O-Ring groove opening results were evaluated. The appropriate modeling techniques to use instead of the reference modeling technique with respect to investigated outputs were presented by using these results.