Influence of the flexural rigidity of the bolt on the behavior of the T-stub steel connection

• Published in: Engineering structures Vol. 81; pp. 181 - 194
• Main Authors: Abidelah, Anis, Bouchaïr, Abdelhamid, Kerdal, Djamel Elddine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.12.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bolt bending; Building structure; Buildings; Buildings. Public works; Construction (buildings and works); Exact sciences and technology; External envelopes; Finite element model; Interaction M/N; Joints; Metal structure; Steel connections; Stresses. Safety; Structural analysis. Stresses; T-stub connection; T-stub connection; Finite element model; Steel connections; Bolt bending; Interaction M/N; Bolted joint; Metallic structure; Stress strain relation; Interaction; Connection; Modeling; Finite element method; Stress distribution; Failure analysis; Analytical method; Numerical simulation; Application; T shape
• ISSN: 0141-0296; 1873-7323
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2014.09.041

[Display omitted] •A 3D FE model of T-stub is validated by comparison with experimental results.•The model is used to evaluate the values of M and N in the bolt.•The interaction curve of bolt (M–N) is defined analytically and validated numerically.•An analytical model defining the resistance and the stiffness of T-stub with M–N in the bolt is proposed.•The proposed model is validated by performing a parametric analysis. T-stubs are generally used to represent the tension zone of bolted moment resisting connections. The bolts are considered at present as components loaded only in tension. This paper investigates the influence of the bolt bending on the behavior of the T-stubs. A 3D finite element model was first developed and validated by comparison with experimental results found in the literature. The numerical model was then used to analyse the behavior of various T-stubs regarding mainly the values of the axial tensile forces and the bending moments in the bolts. The results show the influence of the bolt bending moment on the failure mode of some T-stubs. The numerical model was also used to evaluate the accuracy of the analytical interaction formula determining the resistance of isolated bolts subjected to bending moment and axial tensile force. Finally, an analytical model is proposed to evaluate the bending moments and the axial tensile forces in the bolts considered as T-stub components. The comparisons with the numerical model results show that the analytical model represents well the behavior of T-stubs considering the bending moments in the bolts.