A parametric study on ultimate strength of single shear bolted connections with curling

Recommended procedures of finite element modeling for predicting the structural behaviors of single shear bolted connections in cold-formed austenitic stainless steel are presented in this paper. It was shown that predictions by FE analysis method were in a good correspondence with test results for ultimate behaviors such as failure mode, ultimate strength and out-of-plane curling. A parametric study on four-bolted connections with extended variables; plate thickness, end distance and edge distance is performed in order to consider the influence of curling on ultimate strength for practical design and ultimate strengths obtained from FE analysis results are also compared with those calculated by current design standards and recently modified equations by Kuwamura. It is found that Kuwamuraʹs equations, which are specified by SSBA design manual are more valid for predicting ultimate strength of bolted connection without curling compared to other design specifications, while for specimens curled in FE analysis, Kuwamuraʹs equations overestimated the ultimate strength due to strength reduction caused by curling and current other design standards showed a tendency to underestimate the ultimate strength of block shear fracture regardless of curling occurrence. Consequently, revised design formula for considering the effect of curling on bolted connection is proposed in this paper using correlations between strength reduction ratio and plate thickness. Furthermore, the validation of proposed design equations in predicting the ultimate strength is verified through comparisons with existing test results and additional FE analysis results.