Tests of single shear bolted connections of thin sheet steels at elevated temperatures—Part II: Transient state tests

Abstract

A total of 62 single shear bolted connection specimens were tested using transient state test method. The specimens of single shear bolted connections were fabricated by three different thicknesses of thin sheet steels. The tests were conducted at three different load levels of 25%, 50% and 75% of the failure load at ambient temperature. The tendency of the test strength reduction of the single shear bolted connections conducted using the transient state test method is generally similar to that for the steady state test method. However, it is shown that the transient state test results are always conservative compared with the steady state test results. Three main failure modes, namely the bearing, tear out and net section tension, were observed in the transient state tests. The failure modes of the specimens in transient state tests for the load level of 0.25 of the failure load at ambient temperature are generally consistent with those specimens in the steady state tests.