Additional Design Considerations for Bolted Connections

A multi-year study was conducted at the University of Missouri-Rolla which focused on such topics as deformation characteristics of bearing type connections; strength of bearing and tensile type failure modes of flat sheet connections; tensile strength of staggered bolt patterns in flat sheet connections; and tensile strength of bolted connections for angle and channel sections. The intent of this research was to verify the present design approach for bolted connections and to expand the design methodology to include additional limit states, in particular the effect of deformation of the bolt hole and the influence of shear lag in angle and channel sections. This paper summarizes the scope and findings of recent UMR research as it pertains to the topics of bolt hole deformation and shear lag