Behaviour of duplex stainless steel bolted connections

Abstract

This study deals with the behaviour of duplex stainless steel bolted connections. The aim of the study is torespond to the question if the current stainless steel design specifications are able to predict the behaviourof such connections. Firstly, the net cross-section capacity of duplex stainless steel plates subjected to tensileloading are presented. They were conducted to obtain the stress–strain curves and tensile fracture behaviourused to support the finite element (FE) fracture simulations. Secondly, nonlinear FE models are developedfor duplex stainless steel bolted connections subjected to tensile loading. The FE models are validated againstexperimental data in terms of load–displacement curves, failure modes and ultimate loads. Then, a numericalparametric study that consists of 133 duplex stainless steel grade EN 1.4162 bolted connection specimens iscarried out. The failure modes of bolted connections are carefully examined, including combined tear out andbearing, bearing and net section, looking at the influence of parameters such as end distance, edge distance andspacing between the bolts in the connections. The results are compared to the design rules prescribed in thecurrent stainless steel design specifications. Generally, it is found that the Australian/New Zealand (AS/NZS),American (SEI/ASCE) Specification and European codes conservatively predict the ultimate strengths of thebolted connections, whereas the strengths predicted by the AS/NZS and SEI/ASCE specifications are overallmore accurate and less scattered.