Load Distribution among Bolts Parallel to Load

Abstract

Measured distributions of load among two, three, five, or seven bolts in a row parallel to the direction of the applied load are presented for joints of various width Douglas‐fir main members and two widths of steel splice plates. An analytical method of predicting the load distribution is also presented. The results show that each row has a unique load distribution dependent upon the variation in load‐slip curves and fabrication effects. The analytical method is shown to predict the distribution as long as sufficient knowledge of the individual fastener load‐slip relations is available. Results indicate that present design procedures for rows of bolts are not conservative.