Design and Analysis of Steel Tension Members with Bolted End Connections

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to investigate the effect of connection eccentricity and connection length on failure capacities of steel tension member with bolted end connection. Tension members are frequently used for lateral bracing and as truss elements. Such members have normally eccentric connections which results in bending of tension member. It is often permitted by, current design specifications, to neglect this eccentricity in the design of member. The present study is focus on examining the effect of varying connection eccentricity and connection length on the ultimate capacity of bolted tension member. In present study connection length is increased by increasing the pitch between the holes instead of increasing the number of bolts. In this work six experimental tests are carried out on Tension members fastened with bolts, to calculate the failure capacity and also to trace the entire load versus deflection path. In this work finite element analysis of tension members carried out. Results of finite element analysis are compared with experimental results. The failure capacities predicted by FEA are in close agreement with the experimental observed failure capacities of the tension member subjected to tensile loading.