Impact of joint geometries in bonded-bolted hybrid joints for steel construction

Abstract

This paper summarises findings of a study that investigated the effect of joint geometry on the load capacity of hybrid joints, which are a promising method for increasing the load capacity of joints in steel structures. The results showed that all geometries resulted in higher joint capacity for hybrid joints than for bonded joints, with an impressive increase of 43% to 142%. Furthermore, the study identified the specific effects of joint width, overlap length and distance of the bolts to the end of the overlap on joint capacity. Widening the joint led to an almost linear increase in load capacity for both hybrid and untightened bonded joints. Increasing overlap length also contributed to increasing load capacities, but not as efficiently as joint width. Despite numerical simulation and observations of fracture surfaces indicating that shortening the edge distance would increase joint capacity by applying higher compression to the overlap end, edge distance did not have a significant effect on the load capacity of hybrid joints. These findings are a significant step towards establishing a comprehensive design procedure for hybrid joints and provide important insights into their underlying principles. However, further investigation is necessary to fully understand the mechanisms responsible for the observed effects. Ultimately, developing accurate predictive models for joint strength will greatly benefit the field of structural engineering.