Stress Relaxation Behavior at High-Tension Bolted Connections of Stainless-Steel Plates

Abstract

To clarify the influence of creep deformation of stainless-steel plates on the stress relaxation at high-tension bolted connections, the measurements of creep strain and residual stress in the bolt have been made. Annealed type 304 plates showed apparent creep strain and the stress decrease was approximately 6 percent for 700 hours. Creep strain could not be observed for the plates with higher yield strength, and less stress relaxation was measured. These experimental results have been ascertained by FEM using the creep equations. The stress relaxation behavior could be predicted except for the early stage immediately after loading.