This paper discusses an experimental investigation to examine the bolt hole clearance effect on the behavior and the ultimate load capacity of the bolted connection made from the fiber-reinforced plastic composite material for the civil engineering structures. The dimensions of the coupon specimen in the experimental program were chosen in order to produce a bearing failure at the connection. Various bolt hole clearances were studied in the investigation, while the width of the specimen, the edge distance and the thickness of the coupon sample were kept invariant. During the experimental testing, the ultimate loads of the connection and the load-displacement relations of the bolt holes were recorded. The evaluation of testing result discussed the failure process at the interface between the load and the bolt holes, and a comparison was made between close fit condition and the connection with clearance on the displacement and the ultimate load. The potential application of the results to the mechanical connection design criteria was also discussed.
展开▼
