SEDL / STP / STP927-EB / STP29056S

Fatigue Strength of Bolted and Adhesive Bonded Structural Steel Joints

Albrecht, P
Professor, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Sahli, AH
Structural engineer, Dewberry & Davis Engineers, Fairfax, VA

Pages: 23    Published: Jan 1986

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Abstract

This study examines the feasibility of adhesive bonding and bolting tension splices, beam splices, and cover plates. The results show that bonding the contact surfaces significantly increased the fatigue life of high-strength bolted splices. Bonding cover plates to the tension flange of the beam increased the fatigue life by a factor of 20 as compared to that of conventionally welded cover plates. Replacing welds with adhesives and bolts virtually fatigue-proofs structural steel details subjected to highway bridge loading.