FE simulation and experimental tests of high-strength structural bolts under tension

•Bolts mating with nuts of higher class can lead to a higher probability in failure.•8.8 structural bolts mating with bright nuts failed by thread stripping.•In the numerical simulation, influence of different material laws was small.•Some discrepancy in load–displacement relationship can be observed.•Numerical simulation was capable of representing the failure mechanisms.

Experimental tests have been completed for high-strength 8.8 bolts for studying their mechanical performance subjected to tensile loading. As observed from these tests, failure of structural bolts has been identified as in one of two ways: threads stripping and necking of the threaded portion of the bolt shank, which is possibly due to the degree of fit between internal and external threads. Following the experimental work, a numerical approach has been developed for demonstration of the tensile performance with proper consideration of tolerance class between bolts and nuts. The degree of fit between internal and external threads has been identified as a critical factor affecting failure mechanisms of high-strength structural bolts in tension, which is caused by the machining process. In addition, different constitutive material laws have been taken into account in the numerical simulation, demonstrating the entire failure mechanism for structural bolts with different tolerance classes in their threads. It is also observed that the bolt capacities are closely associated with their failure mechanisms.