EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON TORQUE COEFFICIENT AND ON SHEAR PERFORMANCE OF A NOVEL BLIND BOLTED CONNECTION WITH HIGH-STRENGTH BOLTS

To further develop connection techniques in prefabricated steel building structures as well as deconstructable steel structures, a novel blind bolted connection with traditional high-strength (HS) bolt is introduced herein, and five slip-critical ones are designed. Based on a shearing test, their torque coefficient, slip coefficient, shear capacity and shear mechanism are investigated, and the test results are compared with design values in accordance with standard for the design of steel structures GB 50017−2017. The finite element model for the HS bolted connection is developed with ABAQUS, and its accuracy and applicability are verified against the test results. Parametric analyses are carried out. It is indicated that this new blind bolted connection with HS bolt is favourable to installation and disassembly. During the shear loading process, the loose of pretension within the bolts is up to 15%~20%, and current national standard is generally still adequate for predicting slip coefficient and shear capacity of such bolted connections. Research outcomes obtained may provide an important basis for the utilization of such novel blind bolted connections in practice.