Net section resistance of steel angles connected by one leg

[摘要] In civil engineering structures, steel angles are often used as tensioned elements, because of their ease of fabrication and assembly. For practical reasons, angles are usually connected only by one leg, using a single row of bolts, and rupture of weakened section usually determines a joint capacity. Also, eccentricity affects the distribution of stresses in the net section and hence its load capacity. Assessment of ultimate resistance is a completely different issue compared to the well-known and established problems of plastic resistance and requires advanced material modelling. The paper presents a numerical simulation of net section failure of tensioned angles, made of structural steel grade S275, taking into account ductile initiation and propagation of fracture using the Gurson–Tvergaard– Needleman damage model. Extensive parametrical analysis of ultimate tensile resistance was performed with a wide range of parameters. The typical and well-recognised failure modes were observed as net section fracture and block tearing. Also, an additional failure mode, classified as limited block tearing, has occurred which is not considered in current design provisions. The paper describes the impact of individual geometrical properties of the joint (numbers of bolts, connection length, and distance from the edge of the connected leg to the center of the fastener hole) on the apparent failure form and the resistance obtained.

[学科分类] 建筑学

[关键词] lap-bolted connection;steel angles;net section fracture;block tearing;numerical simulations