A Yield Line Component Method for Bolted Flange Connections

Dowswell, Bo (2011). "A Yield Line Component Method for Bolted Flange Connections," Engineering Journal, American Institute of Steel Construction, Vol. 48, pp. 93-116.

Bolted connections are often used in steel structures to transfer of tension loads into wide flange members. The strength of these connections is determined with a prying action design procedure (outlined in the 13th edition AISC Steel Construction Manual) that checks the limit states of bolt tension rupture and bending of the flange. This procedure is valid only for fittings with limited bolt spacing and limited edge distance. This paper discusses a method to determine the local flange bending strength of a wide flange member using the yield line method. The proposed design method includes the effect of prying action on the bolts, and can be applied to many different connection configurations, including connections with large bolt spacing and edge distances and connections with web stiffeners. Comparisons with test data from 10 independent research projects will be used to verify the accuracy of the proposed method.