Th structural behaviour of bolted connections under pure shearing and pure rotational loading

Abstract

This research aimed at initiating a consistent accumulation of data on the load-deformation behaviour of both the rational loading that will be useful to engineers and other researchers in future .The experiment were designed to linear mathematical models to describe the behaviour .The principle of superpositioning was also aplied to the experimental data obtained to determine the relative contribution of the bolt and connected material to the overall joint deformation. The non-linear mathematical models used to model joint behaviour and experimental were:1)The exponential model and2)The inverse ramberg-osgood model These models which have been used in other related research work were mordified for use during these research.The predictive load deformation curve obtained by use of these models were compared to the experimental data by use of load error analysis averaging techniques from the comparative studies of these two sets of data.The inverse Ramberg-Osgood rotation of both the describe the load-deformation and moment rotation of both the connectors and joints loaded in pure shear and pure rotation respective better.The joint behaviour was also found to be semi-rigid as opposed to the fully assumptions used in design codes. The information using principle of superposition was not conclusive in hat not enough data on the relationship between bolt and joint material load deformation behaviour was available