Testing and design of stainless steel staggered bolted connections

The present paper reports a thorough experimental investigation into the net section failure behaviour and capacity of stainless steel staggered bolted connections in tension. testing programme was carried out on 31 connection specimens, with 18 made austenitic (grade EN 1.4301), 7 duplex 1.4462) 6 ferritic 1.4016). geometric parameters, including transverse pitches, bolt hole patterns were varied. test setup procedures, as well key experimentally observed results, modes loads, are reported detail. obtained loads analysed discussed, then utilised to assess accuracy established design rules for connections, given European, American Australian/New Zealand standards. All three examined standards consider (i) fracture (ii) gross yielding specify that load shall be taken minimum value calculated from all potential modes. It found current lead overly conservative scattered predictions inaccurate mode predictions. A new approach based continuous strength method (CSM) is proposed, shown result substantially improved both