Numerical analysis of a double shear standard bolted connection considering monotonic loadings

Abstract

The behaviour of standard bolted steel connections submitted to monotonic loads, through the use of numerical models, is presented in the current paper.

The bolted connections allow speed up constructive processes in an increasingly competitive and globalized world in which the costs are a decisive factor in the development of a project. The use of computational tools in the analysis of bolted connections becomes determinant, mainly for new solutions or solutions less explored in terms of design codes.

Throughout the years, bolted connections have been suffering transformations resulting from research activities performed by many authors. Rivets have been replaced by bolts, the main achievement being the pre-stressed bolts. Methodologies based on finite element analyses were proposed for double shear bolted connection. The non-linear behaviour of these connections is investigated and their performances are compared. In the numerical modelling of the bolted connection, linear elastic and elastoplastic analyzes reveal that there are two slip levels associated with local non-linearities caused by the contact pairs, which vary with clamping stresses.

Keywords:

• numerical analysis
• bolted connection
• monotonic loadings
• pre-stressed bolts

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mariana Ferreira Rodrigues

Mariana Ferreira RODRIGUES, born 1994 in São João da Madeira, Portugal, is Research Fellowship of Optics and Experimental Mechanics Laboratory (LOME) of INEGI/UP and CONSTRUCT/FEUP (Portugal). She obtained the MSc in Civil Engineering (structures) by Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto in 2017. Currently, her works in field of the Fatigue of old riveted steel bridges.

José Correia

José CORREIA, born 1984 in Peso da Régua, Portugal, is Senior Researcher of Optics and Experimental Mechanics Laboratory (LOME) of INEGI/UP and CONSTRUCT/FEUP (Portugal). He is also Invited Professor at the structural mechanics section in the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Coimbra. He obtained the degrees BSc (2007) and MSc (2009) in Civil Engineering by the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. He is specialist in steel and composite (steel and concrete) construction by the University of Coimbra in 2010. He is PhD in Civil Engineering by University of Porto in 2015. He is also co-author of more 30 papers in the most relevant scientific journals devoted to engineering materials and structures and 80 proceedings in international and national conferences, congresses and workshops. His is an expert in structural integrity, fatigue and fracture of materials and structures.

Bruno Pedrosa

José XAVIER graduated in Mechanical Engineering at University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) in 1999. He completed a PhD degree at Arts et Métiers ParisTech in France in 2007, dealing with wood stiffness variability by coupling full-field measurements with the virtual fields method. After his PhD, he held a position as research assistant at UTAD/CITAB (Ciência2008), during which he was responsible for the project: mechanical behaviour of bio-based materials and structures. Since February 2015, J. Xavier hold a position of guest lecturer (Prof. Auxiliar Convidado) at the Engineering Department of the School of Science and Technology (ECT) of UTAD.

Abílio de Jesus

Bruno PEDROSA born 1993 in Leiria, Portugal, is a PhD candidate in Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra since September 2017. He is also a researcher at Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering interested in innovative methods for strengthening operations of old steel and steel-concrete old bridges, namely concerning fatigue assessments. He obtained the MSc in Civil Engineering (Structural Mechanics) by Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra in 2017.

Bruno Carvalho

Bruno CARVALHO born 1983 in Vila Real, Portugal, is Senior Engineer in Sibelco AS since 2016. He obtained the BSc and MSc in Civil Engineering (structures) by University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro in 2006 and 2013, respectively. As a Civil Engineer he participated in many projects in Portugal, Brazil and Norway. His responsibilities include field execution supervising and budgets, business development as well as elaboration of proposals for clients, project management in areas such as mining industry, technical design positions in the oil & gas industry and civil construction/ infrastructures.

Carlos Rebelo

Abílio DE JESUS, born 1973 in Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal, is an expert in Structural Integrity, Fatigue and Mechanical Testing. He obtained his Mechanical Engineering degree at Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) in 1996, an MSc degree in 1999, and a PhD of University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro in 2004. Currently he is a professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of FEUP. He is also co-author of more 100 papers in the most relevant scientific journals devoted to Engineering Materials and structures and more 200 proceedings in international and national Conferences, congresses and workshops. He has been a coordinator or researcher in several international (EU) and national projects (FCT and QREN).

José Xavier

Carlos REBELO obtained his PhD from The Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1992 and is currently Associate Professor in the Civil Engineering Department (DEC) of University of Coimbra, Portugal and researcher of the Institute for sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering, working in dynamics of structures, earthquake engineering, steel and mixed construction, bridges and support structures for wind energy converters.

Rui Calçada

Rui CALÇADA obtained the MSc in Civil Engineering Structures at Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) in 1996 and the PhD in Civil Engineering at University of Porto in 2003. He is Full Professor at the Civil Engineering Department and Coordinator of the Centre of Competence in Railways of FEUP. He was principal investigator of 12 research projects and was member of the team of 10 research projects in the field of railways. His main research interests are: advanced models for train-infrastructure dynamic interaction; wayside (track, bridges, and transition zones) and on-board condition monitoring systems; advanced algorithms for RCM systems. He is member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Railway Technology. He is director of the PhD programme – iRail – Innovation in railway systems and technologies.