Finite element investigation on steel plate bolted tension members with staggered holes

In order to validate the equal-area method and the s2/4g rule, which are commonly used to compute tensile ultimate strength of bolted connections with staggered holes, a finite element study was conducted. A finite element model was developed to simulate the behavior and strength of steel plate bolted tension members with staggered holes using the C3D8I element of ABAQUS. The experimental results were used to validate the finite element model. Then a parametric study was conducted based on the validated model. The parameters include the gauge, the pitch, and the geometry pattern, and the preload of bolt. Numerical results indicate that when the pitch of steel plate bolted tension members is less than a limit value, the tensile ultimate strength predicted by the s2/4g rule agrees well with the data obtain from finite element analysis. That is to say the performance of the s2/4g rule is better than the equal-area method. However, when the pitch is larger than the limit value, the predicted tensile ultimate strength based on the two methods overestimate the loading capacity obtained from finite element analysis. Based on the analysis of finite element, a modified s2/4g rule was presented. The tensile ultimate strength predicted by the modified s2/4g rule agrees well with the one obtained from finite element analysis.