Shear performance of high-strength bolted connections with stainless-clad steel plates in a corrosive environment

Stainless-clad (SC) steel plates offer desirable corrosion resistance at a relatively low cost, but their shear performance in high-strength bolted connections in a corrosive environment has not been fully explored. In this study, monotonic tensile tests were performed on specimens connected by normal and stainless high-strength bolts at different corrosion degrees. The results were used to determine the influence of corrosion on the slip coefficient, bolt pre-tension force, initial slip load, and ultimate bearing capacity, and a simplified method was developed for estimating the slip coefficient and initial slip load.