Generalised component method for bolted bearing type connections

Abstract

This paper develops a new generalised component method (GCM) model for bolted bearing type connections that predicts their full‐range response and all relevant strength limit states, including the bolt shear, bearing, shear‐out, net section fracture and block shear limit states. The proposed model divides a bolted bearing type connection into components that significantly contribute to its deformation and/or strength limit states. For each component, the force‐deformation curve is derived, including the post‐ultimate response, and expressed as a trilinear relationship. By assembling all components (springs) into the connection model, the multi‐linear force‐displacement response of the connection can be predicted, including the ultimate strength and ultimate deformation capacities. The proposed GCM can consider the interaction of adjacent bolts in modelling multi‐bolt connections. The new GCM is shown to accurately predict force‐displacement responses obtained from experimental tests and non‐linear finite element analyses. It is also shown to predict experimental responses significantly more accurately than the current component method implemented in Eurocode 3‐1.8.