Strength of channel bolted connection with austenitic stainless steel (304 type)

Stainless steel has been widely utilized as structural materials of building due to significant characteristics in its superior corrosion resistance, durability, aesthetic appeal etc. Recently, experimental and numerical studies of structural behaviors and curling (out-of-plane deformation) influence for single shear bolted connection fabricated with thin-walled plane plates have been performed by Kim T.S. 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 of bolted connections such as fracture mode, ultimate strength and curling occurrence. Curling also occurred in the channel bolted connections with a long end distance like bolted connections assembled with plane plates. The curling reduced the ultimate strength and ultimate strength reduction caused by curling has been estimated quantitatively through the strength comparison of analysis results of FEA models with free edge and restrained curling. Additional parametric analysis for FEA models with extended variables has been performed. Therefore, the ultimate strengths were compared with current design strengths and modified strength formulae for channel bolted connections considering curling effect were proposed.