Mecatheque
Scientific and technical publications
Development of a connector element for bolted-joint under tensile load
The replacement of industrial tests by a numerical three-dimensional study of a bolted structural joint, taking into account the problem of non-linearity (behavior of contacts, divers materials), increases the time of calculation and requires a large amount of memory. Also, the optimization of the large and complicated-bolted structure (number and position of the bolted-connections) leads to an important number of calculations.
In perspective to reduce computing time, this study proposes a connector model able to replace a bolted-connection in order to deduce the most loaded zones. These areas are then isolated for a local re-analysis. Based on small deformations, on Kirchhoff-Love theories with perfect adhesion between the plates, we will propose a stiffness matrix. The hypothesis of decoupling between rigidities allow us to reduce the number of components to 6 (instead of 36). The component values are identified from experimental measurements by using an analytical solution.
Then, we validate the connector element by numerous confrontations between experimental and numerical results for the case of multiple bolted steel joints (2, 3 and 4) under tensile.