Experimental investigations on pre-tensioned hybrid joints for structural steel applications

ABSTRACT

The choice of a suitable joining method is of major importance for the performance and durability of structural connections in any type of construction and in other branches of industry, such as the manufacturing of sliding vehicles. In addition to mechanical joints using high-strength bolts as well as welding, adhesive bonding is more and more being considered as a serious alternative. Hybrid joints are the focus of the research, especially to increase load-bearing capacity and reduce deformation. This project specifically aims at the combination of elementary bonded joints and High Strength Friction Grip Bolts to form the so-called pre-loaded hybrid joint. The pre-loaded hybrid joint optimally combines the specific advantages of both elementary joining methods and thus creates an efficient structural joint. This research takes up the findings of a previous project and focuses on the characterisation of the pre-loaded hybrid joint with regard to its application in the field. For this purpose, a comprehensive experimental test programme is carried out, which served for the validation of a numerical model generated for the computational load prediction in a companion paper.

KEYWORDS:

• Epoxy/epoxides
• civil engineering
• rail
• destructive testing
• fracture
• steels

Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by the research program IGF–20036BG funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy – through the European Research Association of Sheet Metal Working (EFB e.V.)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations [IGF–20036BG].