Shear connecting elements subjected to pure tension

Abstract

The e f f e c t s of a pure t e n s i l e l o a d a p p l i e d t o s t r u c t u r a l s t e el end p l a t e shear connections was s t u d i e d i n an a t t e m p t t o d e t e r m i ne the r e l a t i o n s h i p between connection c a p a c i t y and f l e x i b i l i t y w i th the parameters of b o l t hole spacing and end p l a t e thickness. A t o t a l of nine specimens were designed, f a b r i c a t e d , and t e s t e d w i t h two d i f f e r e n t b o l t hole spacings and two end p l a te t h i c k n e s s e s . These specimens were t e s t e d by a p p l y i n g a t e n s i l e load u n t i l f a i l u r e occurred. The dominant mode o f f a i l u r e was b o l t t e ar o u t . A r e l a t i o n s h i p between the o r i e n t a t i o n of b o l t s and c o n n e c t i on c a p a c i t y and f a i l u r e mode was examined and t e s t e d. The t e s t r e s u l t s were compared t o t h e p r e d i c t e d f a i l u r e loads o b t a i n e d from the d e s i g n c a l c u l a t i o n s.