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This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations into the web crippling behaviour and load-carrying capacity of stainless steel built-up I-section members under End-Two-Flange (ETF) concentrated transverse loading. An experimental programme was conducted on 23 austenitic and duplex stainless steel built-up I-section specimens, with each consisting of two identical press-braked channel sections assembled back-to-back by means of self-tapping screws. Following the experimental programme, a numerical modelling programme was performed, where finite element models were firstly developed to replicate the tests and then used to conduct parametric studies. Based on the test and numerical data, the existing design rules for stainless steel built-up I-section members failing by web crippling, as set out in the current European, American and Australian/New Zealand design standards, were assessed. The comparisons indicated that the European and Australian/New Zealand design standards resulted in overly conservative and rather scattered failure load predictions, while the American design standard led to less scattered failure load predictions, but with many predictions on the unsafe side. Therefore, an improved design approach was proposed and shown to provide substantially improved failure load predictions for stainless steel built-up I-section members under End-Two-Flange loading. • The web crippling behaviour of stainless steel built-up I-sections under ETF loading was studied. • Tests were conducted on 23 stainless steel built-up I-section specimens. • FE models were developed and validated against test results and then used for parametric studies. • The existing codified design rules were assessed and a new design approach was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental investigation into the structural behaviour and strength of swage-locking pinned aluminium alloy double-shear connections. It reports the failure modes (shear-out, bearing, block shear and net section failures), ultimate resistances and load-deformation histories. A total of twenty-three tests with four different aluminium alloy grades and various geometric variables, including end distances, edge distances and pin spacings, were carried out. The experimental results were utilized to assess the accuracy of the current American, Australian/New Zealand and European design provisions, as well as recent proposals by Teh and co-workers, extended to the design of aluminium alloy shear connections. The current code equations are shown to provide overly conservative strength predictions for the tested specimens. The equations of Teh and co-workers provide significantly more accurate strength predictions than the codes, though the test results indicate that there is still scope for more efficient design equations for swage-locking pinned aluminium alloy shear connections. • Twenty-three tests conducted on swage-locking pinned aluminium alloy shear connections. • Four different aluminium alloy grades and various geometric variables were considered. • Test results were utilized to assess the accuracy of the current design codes. • It was found that the equations of Teh and co-workers are more accurate than codified methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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