Experimental and numerical study on reduction coefficient of the shear capacity of austenitic long stainless-steel bolted connections

Abstract

Stainless-steel has better ductility than carbon steel, and the stress redistribution phenomenon is more obvious in the austenitic long stainless-steel bolted connections. In this paper, reduction coefficient of the shear capacity of austenitic long stainless-steel bolted connections was investigated. A total of 15 specimens of austenitic long stainless-steel bolted connections were studied in the experiment. A finite element (FE) analysis was performed for studying the reduction coefficient, and it was verified through the comparison of the experimental results. Then the key variables affecting the reduction coefficient of long connections were studied through a parametric analysis. It was found that connection length, the value of An/As (ratio of net section area of connecting sheet An to total shear area of bolt rod As) were the most important variables affecting the reduction coefficient. When the connection length was in the range of 15 d0-64 d0, the reduction coefficient decreased linearly with the increase of connection length. When the connection length was fixed, the reduction coefficient increased with the value of An/As. This was because the greater value of An/As, the smaller the deformation at the bolt hole under the same load, which reduced the degree of inhomogeneity of bolt shear distribution and the less the shear capacity. Finally, the suggested formula of reduction coefficient of the shear capacity of austenitic long stainless-steel bolted connections was put forward.