This paper deals with the fracture mode and failure growth of FRP bolted joints. The laminated composite used in this experiment was the chopped strand glass mat reinforced unsaturated polyester with a double lapped bolted joint. The failure propagation behavior of the specimen bearing a bolted joint was examined in terms of three typical modes: the net tension mode, the compression mode and the multiple mode. The relationship between those fracture modes and the characteristics of the load-extension diagram obtained in the tensile test was also discussed. The two-dimensional finite element analysis was used in order to calculate the initial stress distribution and displacement of the specimen under a plane stress state. The prediction of fracture mode by numerical approach using the finite element method agreed well with the experimental data. Therefore, it is concluded that the finite element method can be used in the design of FRP bolted joints.
