Desirable Geometrical Configurations of The Web/Flange Splices for Enhancing the Frictional Slip Resistance of an I-Girder

Abstract

<p>The present study focuses on the major slip behavior of high-strength frictional bolted connections in an I-girder. Bolted girder connections resist the applied bending moment through the cooperation of flange and web resistances. Flange and web splices are individually designed following practical design codes, such as Eurocode 3 and the Japanese Specifications for Highway Bridges. In the present study, FEA of various cross-sectional dimensions of the web splice in girder bolted connections, having various bolt arrangements of the web splice, and various number of bolts in the flange and web splices have been conducted to quantitatively evaluate the cooperative slip behavior of the girder connections. It has been found that the frictional force of the web splice was small compared to the design resistance. Moreover, as the bolt spacing of the web splice increased and the number of bolt rows of the web splice decreased, the ratio of the frictional force to the design slip resistance increased.</p>