Behaviour and Design of Stainless Steel Bolted Connections

Using previously developed and validated finite element (FE) models, an investigation into the behaviour of stainless steel bolted connections has been carried out. Both net section rupture and bearing failure were studied. The main parameters affecting net section rupture were found to be edge distance e 2 and bolt configuration. It was shown that the ductility of stainless steel is sufficient to ensure a failure at the full fracture load (net area multiplied by ultimate tensile strength) for both thick and thin material and hence no reduction factor is required in the design equation. This was confirmed by reliability analysis and a suitable partial safety factor has been derived. The investigation into bearing behaviour showed that the deformation response of stainless steel connections is different from that of carbon steel connections, with stainless steel exhibiting pronounced strain hardening. The locations of fracture initiation obtained from the numerical models match those observed during experimental studies of carbon steel and stainless steel connections. The results of the parametric study were utilised as the basis for the development of design provisions for bearing failure in stainless steel bolted connections, covering both cases in which deformation controls and those for which ultimate strength is the only criterion.