The paper presents the results of a study including experimental tests and numerical modelling performed to investigate the influence of the edge distance and of the tightening torque on the behaviour of steel bolted lap joints of composite plates made of glass fibre reinforced polyesters (GFRP) manufactured by pultrusion.

The experimental program analysis and testing of eighty samples corresponding to four assembly configurations with a variable number of bolts, with different marginal distances and two steps of tightening torques.

Numerical models based on finite elements using ANSYS software package were designed for each assembly configuration tested experimentally, and the obtained results on bearing capacities for the studied joints have been compared.