Design criteria for bolted connection elements in aluminum alloy 6061

Plates frequently find use as connecting elements in structures built from aluminum alloys. Many structural elements employ mechanical fasteners. Desi gn of connections necessitates that due consideration be given to: (a) bolt or rivet failure, (b) progressive bearing distress of material adjacent to the fastener(s), (c) net-section tensile failure, and (d) tear out of the fastener group(s). Current design provisions for block shear failures of bo lted and riveted joints in aluminum-based alloys make use of models initial ly developed for structural steels or, alternatively, fail to address an es timation of joint capacity. Shear failure of aluminum connecting elements i s the focus of this paper. An experimental and analytical program was under taken with the objective of studying block shear failure of aluminum connec ting elements. Twenty aluminum alloy 6061-T6 gusset plates, representing fo ur different bolt patterns, were mechanically deformed. Models to estimate the capacity of the joints are examined and compared with experimental resu lts. Strain distribution around the periphery of the connections were measu red and compared to finite element prediction. The correlations between the design models and experimental observations are highlighted.