Analysis of Tension-Zone Resistance in Bolted Steel Connections : Component Method according to Eurocode3

Sammanfattning: In order to predict the behaviour of bolted steel connections, different methods can be applied to calculate the design tension resistance. In this thesis, the tension resistance is evaluated in the context of the so called Component Method according to Eurocode 3 part 1-8. The design approach establishes a unified procedure of modelling steel joints. Each joint configuration is decomposed into its basic components depending on loading type. In order to design the resistance of components subjected to tensile forces, a simple substitute model, the so-called Tstub flange is adopted. The Component Method is rather complicated to apply for all joint configurations. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to create a brief and facilitated handbook covering the most common types of connections Kadesjös’ engineers deal with. The topic to be studied is rather comprehensive. Thus, this work is only focusing on the resistance calculation of components located in tension zone of HEA-sections in order to go deeper into the equivalent T-stub approach. To get a complete view about the designing procedure, general information about the Component Method are gathered by a literature study. Thereafter, the technical rules for calculation introduced in codes and standards were used to generate a general solution algorithm for two different connection configurations. The calculations have been performed using Mathcad, and the obtained results from a parametric analysis for particular profiles in each example are then summarised in tables and diagrams using Microsoft Excel.