Experimental and Numerical Study on Behaviors of Double-shear Four-Bolted Connection with Austenitic Stainless Steel

Abstract

It is well known that stainless steel has many advantages such as superb durability, ductility, and corrosion resistance. Thus, the use of stainless steel for various structural members in construction fi elds is recently increasing. Structural behaviors of bolted and welded connections, compressive and fl exural members, beam-column joints, seismic devices etc. have been conducted experimentally and numerically and thus new design methods have been proposed. Hence, in this study, both experiment and fi nite element analysis were conducted to assess the block shear failure behaviors of double-shear four-bolted connections made of austenitic stainless steel (STS304) with thinner plate and larger end distance, which are beyond the range of previous literature. The main parameter was end distance and edge distance. Block shear strengths by parametric analysis and test results study were compared with design predictions. It is found that current design equations tended to signifi cantly underestimated test and analysis results. Therefore, modifi ed block shear strength equation was recommended for austenitic stainless steel double shear bolted connection treated in this study.