Analysis of Ultimate Load-Carrying Capacity of Combined Connection with Bolts and Welds

In this paper, load-carrying and deformation capacity of tension lap splices that have both welds and bolts acting in the same shear plane are studied using numerical method. The failure criterion of bolts and welds are given based on the finite element calculation and compared with existing experiment results, it shows that the established numerical model is correct and reliable. The strength of longitudinal welds and the bearing capacity of the high-strength bolts before slipping can be fully used in the combined joints, the bolts and welds fail almost simultaneously. The deformation of welds in combined connections is less uniform than its' deformation in welded joints as the welds fails, and it causes the deformation of welds as failure is larger in combined connections than in welded connections. The deformation capacity of the combined joint are slightly increased contrasted with bolts joint and welds joint because of the interplay of bolts and welds acting in the same shear plane. The strengths of welds and bolts performed in combined connections can reach 0.95 and the deformation of combined connection is increased at least 1.10 times as the welds connection or the bolts connection.