Statistical evaluation of bearing resistance and related strength functions for bolted connections

The paper is concerned with the statistical analysis of strength functions for bolted connections, namely the bearing resistance, the block tearing resistance, the net cross-section resistance and the resistance of angles in tension connected by a single row of bolts in one leg to obtain partial factors. These strength functions are proposed in the second generation of EN 1993-1-8 and EN 1993-1-1. The statistical analysis is performed using 884 test results available in the background documentation to Eurocode 3 and an additional 380 test results of lap connections with different bolt arrangements, which are available in the literature. A suitable sampling criterion of the test results allowed sufficiently large data sets with a small coefficient of variation, which allowed the assumption of partial factor γM2 = 1.25. EN 1993-1-8 provides the design check of the effective net cross-cross section resistance of angles connected by a single row of bolts in one leg (EN 1993-1-8, 3.10.3). It is demonstrated that this design check is superfluous and can be completely replaced by the design block tearing resistance, taking into account the design upper limit of the net cross-section resistance. •Statistical evaluation of the partial factors on the basis of 1264 test results according to EN 1990.•Comprehensive statistical evaluation of strength models for bearing, block tearing and net cross-section resistance.•Statistical analysis of tests on bolted plates and angles in tension bolted in one leg.•Unique sampling criterion of the test population.•EN1993-1-8 check for the effective net cross-section resistance of angles in tension bolted in one leg is superfluous.