Structural analysis of composite bolted joints using the complex potential method

The problem of a pin-loaded hole in a symmetric composite plate with finite dimensions is considered within the scope of the classical laminate theory. The analysis is performed by means of the Lekhnitskii complex potential method. For the given problem, an appropriate power series expansion of the complex potentials is stipulated, where the coefficients are determined from the underlying boundary conditions. The present approach provides an efficient method for the calculation of stresses and displacements in the neighbourhood of the hole where failure is likely to occur.