Ductility requirements for the design of bolted lap shear connections in bearing

Abstract

The resistance of bolted lap shear connections in bearing is traditionally evaluated by considering an equal distribution of internal forces amongst the bolts. In fact, such an assumption may only be seen as the result of a plastic redistribution of the internal forces, what requires shear ductility in the vicinity of the bolts. In the present paper, ductility requirements are proposed that ensure that, in the presence of real geometric imperfections, plastic resistance can be attained.