Limit analysis of fastener groups under eccentric load

Rigid‐plastic theory is used to predict the failure load of connections made up of groups of fasteners which are subjected to a force applied in the plane of the connection. The failure mechanism consists of one of the plates making up the connection rotating relative to the other about a point in the plane of the connection. This point may coincide with the position of a fastener in which case it is shown that difficulties arise in the computation. Conditions are given for predicting whether this situation will arise and methods are developed for overcoming these and other difficulties that are encountered in the computation. Two computer programs which were developed to do the calculations are described.