Research progress on failure behaviors of composite-metal connection structures

The widespread application of composite materials in engineering has made their combination with metal structures increasingly common, thereby necessitating new requirements for the joint design of composite and metal hybrid structures. This paper reviews the current status of research on the strength and failure analysis of bolted connections in metal-composite hybrid structures. It examines the effects of various factors—such as joint configuration, assembly gap, geometric parameters, composite layup design, bolt preload, and service environment—on the mechanical properties and failure modes of these hybrid connections. The paper also provides a detailed discussion on the failure mechanisms of metal-composite hybrid structures under the combined influence of thermal and mechanical loads. Additionally, it summarizes relevant research on the failure behavior of metal-sandwich composite connection structures. The findings indicate that existing experimental methods and numerical models can be utilized to assist in the design of composite-metal bolted joints, thereby facilitating the rapid development and application of composite materials in ship structural engineering.