Send Orders for Reprints to reprints@benthamscience.ae The Open Construction and Building Technology Journal, 2018, 12, (Suppl-1, M11) 177-186 177 1874-8368/18 2018 Bentham Open The Open Construction and Building Technology Journal Content list available at: www.benthamopen.com/TOBCTJ/ DOI: 10.2174/1874836801812010177 RESEARCH ARTICLE Finite Element Simulations on the Tensile Resistance of Bolted End- Plate Connections with Tubular Members Maël Couchaux 2 , Mario D’Aniello 1,* , Lucia Falciano 1 , Beatrice Faggiano 1 , Mohammed Hjiaj 2 and Raffaele Landolfo 1 1 Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy 2 Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Génie Mécanique, Institut national des sciences appliquées de Rennes, Rennes, France Received: October 01, 2017 Revised: November 01, 2017 Accepted: December 01, 2017 Abstract: Background: Bolted end-plate connections represent the simplest and cheapest way to connect tubular members. EN1993:1-8 provides the general rules based on component method. However, in the case of splices with tubular members the proper definition of the effective length around corner bolts is not clearly addressed. Objective: The objective of the study is to investigate the accuracy and the effectiveness of the existing analytical predictions to estimate the tensile resistance of end-plate connections with tubular members where corner bolts are adopted. Method: Parametric finite element analyses were carried out to investigate the tensile strength of connections of both square and rectangular hollow sections. Results: The tension resistance is largely influenced by the corner bolts. Indeed, the connections with corner bolts exhibit larger resistance that increases when the bolts are closer to the corner of the tubular member. However, reducing the distance between the bolt and the wall of the tubular section can affect the splice ductility. Conclusion: • The method proposed Steige and Weynand to calculate the tension resistance of connections with bolts distributed on all sides of the splice is consistent with EN 1993-1-8. • The finite element simulations showed that the corner bolts can increase the resistance of the connection. In addition, the bolt layout can be optimised by placing the bolts as close to the hollow section as possible. Keywords: Bolted connection, Steel joints, Tubular member, Eurocode 3, Component method, Finite element analysis. 1. INTRODUCTION Tubular members with either rectangular or square hollow sections ( i.e RHS and SHS) are widely used in the steel buildings, especially in the case of valuable examples of architecture. Bolted end-plate connections represent the sim- plest and cheapest way to connect tubular members. EN1993:1-8 provides the general rules based on component * Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, D’Aniello Mario, via forno vecchio 36, 80134 Napoli, Italy; Tel: +390812538917 ; E-mail: mdaniel@unina.it