Finite-element block shear failure deformation-to-fracture failure analysis

Abstract

This paper presents the finite-element (FE) block shear failure (BSF) deformation-to-fracture analysis. FE analysis reveals the following: BSF begins with bolt – bolt hole contact point compressive yielding and not the tensile or shear yielding reported in the literature. BSF does not result from the combination of the gauge tensile plane tensile deformation and the shear plane pure shear deformation alone as reported in the literature and codes. BSF results from compressive deformation of the bolt – bolt hole contact points, tensile deformation of bolt hole portions not in contact with the bolts, gauge tensile plane and edge distance tensile plane deformations in combination with pure shear deformation and a combined shear and tensile bending deformation of the portions of the shear planes near to and remote from the bolt – bolt hole contact points, respectively. This study provides a better understanding of the BSF mechanism, BSF total load-bearing areas, and various resistances to deformation that contribute to the block shear capacity.