Transient state tests of cold-formed stainless steel single shear bolted connections

A total of 87 cold-formed stainless steel single shear bolted connections was conducted. The specimens were tested using transient state test method. The single shear bolted connection specimens were fabricated by three different grades of stainless steel. The three different grades of stainless steel are austenitic stainless steel EN 1.4301 (AISI 304) and EN 1.4571 (AISI 316Ti having small amount of titanium) as well as lean duplex stainless steel EN 1.4162 (AISI S32101). Three different load levels of 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 of the failure load at room temperature were investigated. The tendency of the test strength reduction of the stainless steel single shear bolted connections conducted using the transient state test method is similar to those results obtained by the steady state test method. However, the critical temperatures determined by the transient state test results are usually slightly higher compared with those deduced from the steady state test results at the load levels of 0.25 and 0.50 of the failure load at room temperature. The austenitic stainless steel grade EN 1.4571 (AISI 316Ti) generally has better resistance than the other two stainless steel grades in transient state tests as higher values of critical temperatures were obtained. Two main failure modes, namely the bearing and net section tension failures, were observed in the transient state tests. The failure modes of the specimens in transient state tests at the load level of 0.25 are generally consistent with those specimens in the steady state tests. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.