Investigations on the fatigue behavior of end plate connections with prestressed bolts

Abstract In many areas of our infrastructure, as for instance the construction of crane runway beams, fatigue design of steel structures is a major issue. An important detail in practice, but insufficiently classified in the (Eurocode 3-1-9, 2005) detail catalogue, is the end plate connection with prestressed bolts. Detailed numerical simulations are often necessary for the fatigue check of the weld at the T-stub. The knowledge of the true bolt force required in the detail catalogue can usually also only be taken into account using finite element simulations. For these reasons, the detail ‘end plate connection with different weld configurations and prestressed bolts’ containing the two critical design cases mentioned above has been investigated. The analyzed details comprise butt welds as well as fillet welds and connections with overhanging and flush end plate connections. A literature review of fatigue in details of end plate connections is given. Moreover, the test program on three fatigue tests series is presented. After conducting experimental investigations on small-scale as well as large-scale specimens detailed numerical simulations have been realized. In order to assess the fatigue resistance of the welded connection, the effective notch stress concept has been used. Additionally, fatigue resistances of prestressed bolts have been investigated by recalculating the bolt force progress. After the verification of the numerical models, a parametric study has been conducted by varying geometric characteristics in order to give recommendations on the design of prestressed bolts and welds in end plate connections.