Global-local fatigue approaches for snug-tight and preloaded hot-dip galvanized steel bolted joints

•The fatigue behaviour of bolted joints is researched using various test conditions.•Snug-tight concept is explored (used in the industry, lacking in the literature).•The zinc-coated thin steel plates used result in a very low friction coefficient.•Innovative global and local approaches are used for the fatigue life prediction.•A master S-N curve based on peak elastic maximum principal stresses was generated. This work presents global and local fatigue approaches for snug-tight (common in rack structures) and preloaded bolted joints using thin hot-dip galvanized steel plates, where the zinc coating results in a low friction coefficient. Moreover, S-N data supporting the current revision of Eurocode 3 (EN 1993-1-9) is generated by considering remote and net stresses computed directly or by numerical analysis. Additionally, a master S-N curve based on elastic peak stresses is obtained encompassing the effects of the various tested conditions. Finally, a local fatigue life prediction based on the modified Morrow model combined with elastoplastic numerical analysis returns satisfactory results.