Discussions on Behavior of Bolted Joints in Tension

It is known that the behavior of real axisymmetric bolted joints in tension is much more complicated than that the conventional theory describes. Phenomenon conflicting with the theory prediction was observed in experimental and finite element analysis [Kwiatkowski, J. K., Winnicki, L. A., and Krzyspiak, A., 1986, “Stress Analysis of Bolted Tensile End Plate Connections,” Rozprawy Inzynierskie Eng. Trans., 34, pp. 113–137; Webjörn, J., 1988, “Die Moderne Schraubenverbindung,” VDI-Z, 130, pp. 76–78; Grosse, I. R., and Mitchell, L. D., 1990, “Nonlinear Axial Stiffness Characteristics of Bolted Joints,” ASME J. Mech. Des., 122, pp. 442–449; Gerbert, G., Bastedt, H., 1993, “Centrically Loaded Bolt Joints,” ASME J. Mech. Des., 115, pp. 701–705]. Recently, a new analytical model of bolted joints was presented [Zhang, O., and Poirier, J. A., 2004, “New Analytical Model for Axisymmetric Bolted Joints,” ASME J. Mech. Des., 126, pp. 721–728], based on which some discussions are further made in this note.