A Numerical Study on Block Shear Strength of Channel Four-Bolted Connections Fabricated with Austenitic Stainless Steel

Stainless steel has been utilized on structural members of building due to significant characteristics in its superior corrosion resistance, durability, aesthetic appeal etc. Recently, structural behaviors and curling effect in single shear bolted connection fabricated with thin-walled plane plates have been studied by T.S. Kim. In this paper, finite element analysis (FEA) has been conducted based on the existing test result of channel bolted connections in austenitic stainless steel. The validation of numerical approach was verified to predict the structural behaviors such as fracture mode, ultimate strength and curling occurrence of bolted connections. Curling (out-of- plane deformation) also occurred in the connections with a long end distance like bolted connections assembled with plane plates. The curling caused the ultimate strength reduction and ultimate strength reduction caused by curling has been estimated quantitatively through the comparison of FEA results of FE models with free edge and restrained curling. Additional parametric analysis for FE models with extended variables has been performed. Therefore, the ultimate strengths were compared with current design strengths and reasonable strength formulae for connections with no curling effect were proposed.