Steel Bolts Research Articles

Bolt loosening assessment using ensemble vision models for automatic localization and feature extraction with target‐free perspective adaptation

AbstractBolt loosening assessment is crucial to identify early warnings of structural degradation and prevent catastrophic events. This paper proposes an automatic bolt loosening assessment methodology. First, a novel end‐to‐end ensemble vision model, Bolt‐FP‐Net, is proposed to reason the locations of bolts and their hexagonal feature patterns concurrently. Second, an adaptive target‐free perspective correction method is proposed to correct perspective distortion and enhance assessment accuracy. Finally, an iterative bolt loosening quantification is developed to estimate and refine the bolt loosening rotation. Experimental parametric studies indicated that the proposed Bolt‐FP‐Net can achieve excellent performance under different environmental conditions. Finally, a case study was conducted on steel bolt connections, which shows the proposed methodology can achieve high accuracy and real‐time speed in bolt loosening assessment.

Structural topology optimization for plastic-limit behavior of I-beams, considering various beam-column connections

This work proposes topology optimization for steel I-beams, including consideration of bolted beam-column connections with geometric and material nonlinear analysis. The aim is to assess and compare the topological configurations influenced by different connections, examining their stress distribution and rotational stiffness to illustrate the potential of structural optimization. The bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO) approach is implemented. Furthermore, several bolted steel beam-column configurations were validated based on experimental tests. Subsequently, a series of finite element models were developed, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the plastic-limit behavior of I-beams under different loading conditions. The proposed method could potentially use a lesser quantity of material while maintaining the same level of structural performance. The results indicate that the implementation of structural topology optimization on I-beams while considering various beam-column connections, yields structural performance similar to that of solid web configurations, achieved through material reduction.

Behaviour of large-diameter high-strength bolted shear connections for prefabricated composite beams

This paper presents an experimental investigation into the structural behaviour of a new proposed shear connection incorporating high-strength large-diameter steel bolts in conjunction with steel fibre reinforced concrete blocks. A detailed account of fourteen large-scale push-out tests is provided with the aim of examining and quantifying the full deformational characteristics of these shear connections. The results include the load-slippage responses, shear resistances, and failure modes for the various specimens. It is shown that the proposed connection configuration is suitable for prefabricated composite beams in highway bridges and can be detailed to provide high stiffness over 1500 kN/mm, large shear resistance exceeding 1000 kN, and slippage at failure greater than 6.0 mm. The proposed connection can also be easily assembled on site and provides significant resistance against pull-out forces. Based on the experimental results, complementary design procedures are proposed to enable a prediction of the shear resistance of the connections. A simplified load-slippage relationship for the shear connections is also suggested and shown to represent closely the full deformation characteristics. Overall, the proposed shear connection configuration is shown to offer considerable stiffness, resistance, and ductility, and can be readily installed on site for joining steel beams and precast slabs in combination with high performance in-situ concrete. This connection form contributes to an enabling construction technology for promoting effective prefabrication of composite bridge structures.

Experimental response of thin RC walls seismically strengthened with steel plates

In some Latin American countries, and especially in Colombia, the industrialized system of thin and slender walls has been chosen for the construction of residential buildings, thus reducing costs and increasing efficiency of construction processes. However, these walls differ considerably from traditional concrete wall system due to their reduced thickness, reinforcement detailing, and use of nonductile electro-welded reinforcement, which increases their seismic vulnerability, especially in tall buildings and in high seismic hazard zones. Strengthening proposals for walls with these specific characteristics of the industrialized system are scarce; therefore, it is necessary to evaluate alternatives that allow for improving their seismic performance. This article presents the experimental response of a thin wall that was brought to failure and subsequently repaired and strengthened with externally bonded steel plates to evaluate the effectiveness of the repair process and the strengthening. Additionally, the results of two thin walls externally strengthened with steel plates and bolts are presented, and their response is compared with that of the original walls. All the specimens were subjected to the same type of test under cyclical lateral load and constant axial load until failure. The behavior observed in the rehabilitated wall showed that it is possible to restore the stiffness of a wall that has previously been brought to a severe level of damage and increase its displacement capacity with the strengthening. In strengthened walls without previous damage, the displacement capacity was increased between 25 % and 43 %, reaching a roof drift of up to 2.0 % without a significant increase in resistance. A noticeable increase was obtained in the amount of dissipated energy (greater than 80 %), and the rupture of web reinforcement and buckling of longitudinal reinforcement of the boundaries were delayed for average drifts of 43 % and 32 % higher than in the original walls, respectively.

Dual-Wave ZnO Film Ultrasonic Transducers for Temperature and Stress Measurements.

ZnO film ultrasonic transducers for temperature and stress measurements with dual-mode wave excitation (longitudinal and shear) were deposited using the reactive RF magnetron sputtering technique on Si and stainless steel substrates and construction steel bolts. It was found that the position in the substrate plane had a significant effect on the structure and ultrasonic performance of the transducers. The transducers deposited at the center of the deposition zone demonstrated a straight columnar structure with a c-axis parallel to the substrate normal and the generation of longitudinal waves. The transducers deposited at the edge of the deposition zone demonstrated inclined columnar structures and the generation of dominant shear or longitudinal shear waves. Transducers deposited on the bolts with dual-wave excitation were used to study the effects of high temperatures in the range from 25 to 525 °C and tensile stress in the range from 0 to 268 MPa on ultrasonic response. Dependencies between changes in the relative time of flight and temperature or axial stress were obtained. The dependencies can be described by second-order functions of temperature and stress. An analysis of the contributions of thermal expansion, strain, and the speed of sound to changes in the time of flight was performed. At high temperatures, a decrease in the signal amplitude was observed due to the decreasing resistivity of the transducer. The ZnO ultrasonic transducers can be used up to temperatures of ~500 °C.

Experimental studies on fully demountable P-DBSCs shear connectors in sustainable reinforced concrete beam-slab

To improve the increasingly serious environmental pollution and waste of resources in the construction of traditional buildings, a novel type of shear connector P-DBSCs (Demountable Bolted Shear Connectors with connection Plate) was designed. The shear performance of P-DBSCs in RC beam and slabs were comprehensively evaluated by seven push-out tests and secondary loading. The failure mode, load-slip curve, ultimate shear capacity and ductility of the specimens were carefully discussed. As illustrated by the experimental results, the failure mode of the 7 push-out specimens is bolt fracture with no obvious crack in the beam and slabs, and the demount-ability is excellent after failure. The ultimate slip of all specimens is greater than 6 mm, which meets the requirements of Eurocode 4. The ultimate strength of P-DBSCs shear connectors increased with the increase of steel box thickness and bolt diameter, it decreased with the increase of channel spacing. The ductility of P-DBSCs shear connectors increased with the reducing of channel spacing and bolt diameter. Additionally, the shear performance of P-DBSCs is insensitive to the strength of concrete of slabs. After the first loading, the ultimate shear resistance; ultimate displacement and initial stiffness of the push-out specimen decrease slightly in secondary loading, but the influence code of each parameter remain constant. Finally, a comparison of ultimate strength between the calculated value and the experimental results showed that the theoretical values given by the Eurocode 3, Eurocode 4 and code AISC360–16 were higher than the experimental values, which indicated that the calculations overestimated the shear capacity of connection. Based on this, two formulae were proposed to predict the friction-type shear capacity and pressure-type shear capacity of P-DBSCs and the efficacy of the proposed design formula was proved by the comparison with the test results, which provides a research basis for such shear connectors.

Structural performance analysis of a new bolt–steel plate connection precast concrete sandwich wall structure

This study proposed a new low-rise bolt–steel plate connection precast concrete sandwich wall structure (PCSWS). Shake table testing was conducted on an experimental model of the bolt–steel plate connection PCSWS with two stories. The experimental phenomenon, failure pattern, displacement response, dynamic characteristics, and global hysteresis were analyzed in detail. The test results revealed that the proposed structure demonstrated excellent seismic performance without any structural cracks when subjected to an excitation intensity level of IX for Model-1. The seismic damage was moderate with no significant structural cracks after an excitation intensity level of IX for Model-2. Cracks in Model-2 occurred in the sequence of the places at the bottoms of the columns, the door corners, window opening corners, and the filled surfaces in the bolt–steel plate connection joint zone on the first floor. The observed damage states were primarily light and moderate, indicating the structure’s ability to withstand seismic events.

Hydrogen embrittlement of a V+Nb-microalloyed medium-carbon bolt steel subjected to different tempering temperatures

The effect of different tempering temperatures on the hydrogen embrittlement (HE) resistance of a V + Nb-microalloyed medium-carbon bolt steel was studied by slow strain rate tensile testing and hydrogen thermal analysis. The HE resistance represented by notch tensile strength σbN of hydrogen-charged specimens increases with increasing tempering temperature Ttem, and the σbN of the in situ hydrogen-charged sample is considerably lower than that of the pre-hydrogen-charged sample. Both the diffusible hydrogen content Cdiff and hydrogen-trapping capability of the precipitates show a significant increase-decrease change trend with Ttemp. The ratio of Cdiff primarily trapped by nanoscale V-rich MC precipitates increases linearly with increasing Ttemp. The control of V-rich MC through suitable increasing Ttemp is vital for obtaining the best HE resistance although at the cost of decreased strength. It is thus suggested that a compromise between strength and HE resistance should be considered for the practical application of this type of steel.

Effect of direct-quenching and tempering on hydrogen-induced delayed fracture resistance of high-strength bolt steel

This investigation attempts to explore the potential significance of controlled forging, i.e., direct-quenching at two different finish-forging temperatures of ∼930 °C (B8H sample) and ∼780 °C (B8L sample), and tempering at 600 °C in improving the hydrogen-induced delayed fracture (HIDF) resistance of a 1300-MPa-grade high-strength bolt steel by constant load tensile testing using circumferentially notched round bar specimens and hydrogen thermal analysis. The microstructural characteristics of the tested samples were analyzed and their influences on HIDF were discussed. The results showed that the B8L sample demonstrated a considerably increased HIDF resistance expressed by critical notch delayed fracture stress of 1825 MPa and a decreased hydrogen embrittled index of as low as 21% compared with those of 1675 MPa and 27% for the B8H sample, although the former exhibited slightly higher strength and absorbed hydrogen content. Scanning electron microscopy observation of the fracture surface demonstrated that the B8L sample prevented the brittle intergranular fracture with smaller quasi-cleavage facet and decreased area fraction of the brittle crack initiation zone compared with the B8H sample. The increased resistance to HIDF of the B8L sample is primarily because of its fine microstructure with increased number of finely distributed V-rich nanoscale MC precipitates and decreased dislocation density. It is proposed that controlled forging coupled with V-microalloying is a feasible and economical way to further increase the HIDF resistance of high-strength bolt steel.

Optimization analysis for bolted steel I-beam: Considering various sizes of beam web with a focus on sustainability design

Abstract Steel structural construction has consistently held a pivotal role in modern construction practices. Presently, a substantial portion of research efforts has been directed towards the examination of bolted connections, while the optimization of steel beam usage has not garnered equivalent attention. This research initiative is focused on determining the ideal dimensions for the beam web through the utilization of finite element analysis (FEA). This analysis specifically investigates bolted steel I-beams featuring varying beam web sizes under concentrated loads. To achieve this, a three-dimensional (3D) simulation model of a bolted beam-to-column structure has been meticulously constructed and executed within the ABAQUS software to derive optimization insights. The beam web sizes considered span a range from 200 mm, representing a smaller size, to 400 mm, signifying a medium size, and up to 600 mm, which represents a larger beam web size. Following the simulation, the results pertaining to beam displacement and bending stress have been tabulated and compared against manually calculated values to validate the accuracy of the simulation. Remarkably, the percentage disparity between the FEA and manual calculations remained below 5 %, signifying a high level of acceptability. From the post hoc test, the efficiency rate of the 400 mm beam web size stood at 76.67 %, rendering it the most favourable choice in terms of cost-effectiveness and sustainability among the three considered sizes.

Effects of steel bolts on retrofitting the buckling performance of storage rack system uprights

Storage rack systems, essential for product storage, encounter design challenges, particularly for uprights under axial loading. Despite being produced from thin-walled steel sheets, these systems are required to support excessive loads. Extensive research has focused on maximizing the load-bearing capacity of rack uprights in recent years. This study aims to enhance the axial load capacity of upright profiles through a retrofitting method of installing steel bolts and spacers. Experimental, numerical, and analytical evaluations were conducted to assess the effectiveness of bolt installation in enhancing axial strength of the uprights. Bolt installation altered buckling modes, suppressing distortional buckling. Results consistently showed an increase in axial load capacity with bolt installation, particularly notable in taller uprights. Comparison of experimental, numerical, and analytical results revealed good alignment, highlighting the positive impact of bolt installation on structural stability. Numerical analysis slightly underestimated experimental outcomes, especially for longer lengths, while the analytical approach showed a combination of overestimation and underestimation, with significant overestimation for longer lengths. The study concludes that bolt installation effectively increases the axial load capacity, especially for taller uprights. These findings offer remarkable insights on the positive effect of bolt installation for optimizing storage rack systems by enhancing structural stability and eliminating distortional buckling.

Pathway to Multi-Response Characterization of the Improved Elliptical Vessel Solar Receiver for Efficiencies Maximization

Studies on the pathway to multi-response characterization of the improved elliptical vessel solar receiver for environmental sustainability has been studied. The materials were sourced based on categories of components element: support mechanisms made of mild steel plates, bolts, nuts, clamps, and water as heat transfer fluid. The reflector was made of aluminum foil tape while the vessel has a glass cover fitted with bolts and nuts, the receiver is made of copper pipe, aluminum pipe, galvanized iron pipes, and stainless steel pipes. They are fitted into the vessel with chlorinated polyvinyl chloride 3⁄4 pipes, and journal-bearing mechanisms. Furthermore, glass cover attachment reduces radiative heat loss coefficient by eliminating wind influence and increases heat flux inside the vessel thereby improving heat transfer, hence improving the overall system's efficiency. The pathway to multi-response characterization showed that the average experimental thermal efficiency rose from 9.83% to 12.55% and from 4.42% to 7.03% for Polyurethane coated Copper and Aluminum respectively. It reduced from 9.83% to 8.53% and from 8.10% to 6.50% respectively for Polyurethane coated Galvanized Iron and Aluminum. This depicts the gleam appearance of Polyurethane coating on Galvanized Iron and stainless steel thus reducing their heat absorption coefficient and in turn reducing their efficiency.

EXPLORING COMPOSITE LAMINATED BAMBOO LUMBER TO SUBSTITUTE DIMENSIONAL LUMBER

In upcoming sustainability trend, new materials are in the ongoing search. Bamboo has become one of them, due to its renewability. Bamboo is seen to have varied properties from different species. With the advanced engineering technology, bamboo pieces are able to put together into solid lumber in a form of laminated bamboo lumber (LBL). This makes laminated bamboo having greater mechanical properties. Yet to make LBL to perform better, the experiment to explore LBL to be composited with other strong materials. LBL are composited with aluminum and steel sheets. Both Glue lamination and steel bolt through are two different forms of bonding. There are four beam prototypes, plus a plain LBL. All beams are tested using the universal testing machine in engineering lab, in the 4-point simply supported beam format. The test result seems to be a twist with all efforts to strengthen. It is overall a great improvement in loading capacity of all composite beams, comparing to wood lumber. The best performance is plain LBL beam, due to the monolithic nature. Both metal composites were delaminated at bottom of beams and at vertical lamination. Nuts and bolts composite beams perform less than glued laminates alone, because of stiffness differences at top and bottom of beams. The key to this research is about lamination nature that should be made of materials that are compatible and do not create much strength differences. Lastly, bamboo composites are still to further develop. Composite LBL is still potential materials to substitute wood lumber.

EXPLORING COMPOSITE LAMINATED BAMBOO LUMBER TO SUBSTITUTE DIMENSIONAL LUMBER

In upcoming sustainability trend, new materials are in the ongoing search. Bamboo has become one of them, due to its renewability. Bamboo is seen to have varied properties from different species. With the advanced engineering technology, bamboo pieces are able to put together into solid lumber in a form of laminated bamboo lumber (LBL). This makes laminated bamboo having greater mechanical properties. Yet to make LBL to perform better, the experiment to explore LBL to be composited with other strong materials. LBL are composited with aluminum and steel sheets. Both Glue lamination and steel bolt through are two different forms of bonding. There are four beam prototypes, plus a plain LBL. All beams are tested using the universal testing machine in engineering lab, in the 4-point simply supported beam format. The test result seems to be a twist with all efforts to strengthen. It is overall a great improvement in loading capacity of all composite beams, comparing to wood lumber. The best performance is plain LBL beam, due to the monolithic nature. Both metal composites were delaminated at bottom of beams and at vertical lamination. Nuts and bolts composite beams perform less than glued laminates alone, because of stiffness differences at top and bottom of beams. The key to this research is about lamination nature that should be made of materials that are compatible and do not create much strength differences. Lastly, bamboo composites are still to further develop. Composite LBL is still potential materials to substitute wood lumber.

Dynamic tensile properties of a novel high strength and high toughness bolt steel: Constitutive models and microstructures

With the continuous increase of depth in underground engineering, rock bursts or rock explosions can cause instantaneous shock load and result in rock engineering disasters. To solve these problems, a novel high strength and high toughness (HSHT) bolt steel with constant resistance and large deformation is proposed. This study aims to investigate the dynamic constitutive models and microstructure of HSHT steel under extreme loading conditions. A series of dynamic tension tests were conducted using a Split Hopkinson Tensile Bar (SHTB) system with a high-speed camera. The results revealed that the HSHT steel exhibited a positive strain rate effect. As the strain rate increased from 1000 s−1 to 5000 s−1, the yield strength and ultimate strength of the HSHT steel increased gradually. However, no obvious changes in the uniform elongation. Specifically, the yield strength, tension strength, and uniform elongation of strain rate at 5000 s−1 were 1100 MPa, 1170 MPa, and 30%, respectively. According to the results of the SHTB tests, a modified Johnson-Cook model was proposed. Additionally, we investigated the microstructure of HSHT steel at a high strain rate through microscopic characterization techniques. A large number of fine and deep dimples were observed near the fracture of HSHT steel under dynamic loading. Moreover, the HSHT steel demonstrates a significant presence of nano-twins, which effectively impedes crack propagation both within the grain interior and along grain boundaries. The above findings reveal the relationship between mechanical behavior and microstructure in HSHT steel within dynamic loading conditions, providing valuable insights for the design of HSHT steel in underground engineering.

Design modification of elliptical vessel solar receiver by response surface methodology

Design modification of elliptical vessel solar receiver system by response surface methodology has been carried out. The materials used in this study were locally sourced from Kenyeta Market Enugu, Onitsha Bridge Head Market, and Idumota Market Lagos. These materials were sourced based on categories of components element: support mechanisms made of mild steel plates, bolts, nuts, clamps, and water as heat transfer fluid. The reflector is made of aluminum foil tape while the vessel has a glass cover fitted with bolts and nuts, the receiver is made of copper pipe, aluminum pipe, galvanized iron pipes, and stainless steel pipes. The pipes were fitted into the vessel with chlorinated polyvinyl chloride 3⁄4 joint pipes, and journal-bearing mechanisms. Other features include the tracking system made of light dependent resistance sensors, a direct current motor, a pulley, a belt, an Arduino controller, and a thermal energy storage tank. The lagging material was an expanded Polyethylene sheet. Experimental data were measured with thermocouples, a digital panel, a Uni-T digital anemometer (UT363), and a digital solar power meter (SM206-SOLAR). Matrix Experimental design was used to develop an experimental model for the system. The developed system was tested to investigate the effect of various heat collectors with and without coating on its performance. It was established from the response optimization that the intercept factor was improved by 32.2%. Similarly, the theoretical efficiency was improved by 8.19% while the experimental thermal efficiency was improved by 6.99%.

Shear Performance of Demountable High-Strength Bolted Connectors: An Experimental and Numerical Study Based on Reverse Push-Out Tests

Steel–concrete composite beams, essential for large-span structures, benefit from connectors that reduce cracking at the supports. The crack resistance and alignment with sustainable building trends of high-strength bolted connectors have been extensively researched. Nevertheless, only a few studies exist on their load–slip behavior in hogging sections. In this study, the shear performance of high-strength bolted connectors subjected to tension due to hogging moments was studied based on experiments and numerical modeling according to numerous reverse push-out tests. The results revealed that tensile and splitting cracks were produced in the concrete. Their distribution was affected primarily by the concrete strength and bolt diameter; this distribution became denser at decreasing concrete strengths and increasing bolt diameters. Subsequently, an analysis of the out-of-plane displacement and load–slip response was performed to investigate the phenomenon of anchor rod sliding. A cost-effective and time-efficient finite-element (FE) model was developed to investigate the internal microstates of the specimens. It revealed a correlation between bolt cracking, specimen hardening, steel yield, and failure. A correction factor is also proposed for the shear capacity of bolts within concrete subjected to tension. The findings offer insights into the load–slip response of high-strength bolted connectors subjected to hogging moments, aiding in safer, more durable supports for steel–concrete composite beams.

Development and assessment of sustainable steel-concrete composite beams with novel demountable shear connections

The design of sustainable steel-concrete composite beams (SSCCBs) with demountable shear connections (DSCs) for deconstructability can improve the problem of construction and demolition waste during these construction activities, and it also strengthens the sustainability of a building by allowing for easy dismantling and the reuse or recycling of structural components at the service load and easy replacing the damaged members to achieve the resilience capacity after earthquake. In this study, the structural configuration and concept design of novel SSCCBs using DSCs were firstly introduced. The nonlinear finite element models (FEMs) using the Abaqus software were validated in terms of the load versus mid-span deflection curves and failure modes of the similar composite beams given by the experimental data. A parametric study was implemented to identify the influence of the following variables: geometric size, strength grade, inclination angle and shape of concrete plug, diameter and strength grade of connected bolt, steel grade and width and grade of slab concrete. It was found that geometric size, grade and smooth shape of concrete plug could optimize the performance level of occupancy while bolt diameter and grade enhanced the reuse behavior at service loads. Additionally, increasing the bolt diameter and steel grade led to an increase by 8–10% in the equivalent ultimate strength and to decrease the ductility of the whole beams obviously. Bolt diameter, steel grade and slab width have quite influences on the stiffness due to increase the interaction degree of these prefabricated components. Based on the theoretical and parametric analysis results, simple design method of ultimate moment capacity for this SSCCBs with DSCs is proposed to facilitate design practice.

Mechanical Behavior of Precast Circular Semi-Continuous CFST Columns under a Uniaxial Eccentric Load

For this study, we conducted a detailed examination and comprehensive comparative analysis of the structural responses and mechanical behavior of bolted sleeve connections in precast circular semi-continuous steel tubular concrete (PCSCFST) columns. The research involved fourteen specimens, and we considered the impacts of various parameters, including eccentricity, external steel sleeve thickness, bolt diameter, and slenderness ratio. The findings revealed that the external steel sleeve significantly enhances the protection of the connection area, enabling the bolts to effectively withstand eccentric loads. However, sleeves that are too thick may lead to premature bolt failure, reducing their ultimate load-bearing capacity. Using bolts to transfer loads to the concrete significantly strengthens the restraining effect of the steel sleeve. Nonetheless, increasing the bolt diameter beyond a certain threshold may diminish this beneficial impact, potentially leading to connection failure and a decrease in ultimate load-bearing capacity. A new ‘cooperative value q’ measures component collaboration at ultimate capacity, showing that shorter columns offer less effective coordination than longer ones. Through regression analysis, we formulated a prediction for axial ultimate bearing capacity, closely aligning with the experimental data (Npre-a/Nu average value of 1.003, variance 0.00248). Three N–M curves, including the Eurocode 4 method, offered conservative predictions, with Eurocode 4 closely matching the experimental results. A refined prediction method following Eurocode 4 was developed, yielding an average Ppre-U/Pu value of 0.971 and a variance of 0.0107.

Experimental behaviour of hybrid carbon steel – stainless steel bolted connections subjected to electrochemical corrosion

To minimise cost in practical applications whilst still obtaining a satisfactory performance, stainless steel is often employed in aggressive marine environments to ensure the durability of the structure, whilst parts of the structure less susceptible to corrosion employ conventional carbon steel. When the two materials are in direct contact in the connection region, galvanic corrosion can occur over time thus leading to an increased level of corrosion of the less noble carbon steel parts and an associated degradation in the structural performance. A comprehensive experimental study on the shear behaviour of hybrid carbon steel – stainless steel bolted connections subjected to electrochemical corrosion is presented in this paper. A total of 30 bolted connection specimens were designed and assembled from hot-rolled carbon steel and stainless steel plates. Two bolt grades, the high strength bolts 10.9 and the precipitation hardening stainless steel bolts 10.9 were used to connect the plates. Employing the electrochemical corrosion method, the specimens were subjected to various levels of corrosion by adjusting the duration over which the specimens were sunk in the corrosive medium, which resulted in both different corrosion morphology as well as different levels of mass loss of the carbon steel plates due to corrosion. The corroded connection specimens were thereafter tested to failure under shear exhibiting 4 different failure modes. The load versus deformation curves were recorded and are reported herein, whilst the observed failure modes were also documented. It was revealed that increased level of corrosions led to decreased levels of bolt pretention forces and ultimate resistances of the connections, albeit the severity of the degradation strongly depended on the adopted joint configuration and resulting failure mode.