الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The numerical model’s observations indicate four representative items which are affecting the behaviour of the blind bolted connection.
Column thickness is one of the main parameters that affect the behaviour of the blind bolted connections. The column face fails due to either excessive stress concentration or excessive enlargement in bolt holes.
The second main parameter is the sleeve thickness, where the failure is illustrated as a stress concentration due to shear stresses on the critical sections.
The third main parameter is the bolt shank. The bolt suffers from combined shear and tension stresses due to the applied load.
Finally, the fourth parameter is the end plate thickness. The stiffness of the end plate affects the overall behaviour of the connection in addition to the amount of tension force transferred to the bolts and sleeve accordingly due to prying effect.
Under the effect of static loading on the blind bolted connection at a specific distance from the connection, a bending moment is induced on the connection and the following is observed:
• The blind bolted connections seem to withstand low straining actions.
• The phenomenon of metal forming is a unique mode of failure that acquires a special handling especially in the design of sleeve thickness.
• Column stiffness is one of the main keys in determining the capacity of the connection and its rigidity. Also, it is a main factor in bolt slippage mode of failure.
• The steel grade has a very minor effect on the stiffness and rigidity of the connections.
• The bolt is attached to the sleeve and is considered as the point of fixation of the sleeve when considering the statical system of the sleeve as a cantilever.
• The end plate affects the tension in the critical bolt due to prying effect which is transferred to the sleeve.
• The moment induced from static loading depends on all elements of the connection (end plate, bolt, sleeve and supporting column).
• It is recommended to use blind bolted connections in low rise buildings and non-structural elements.
• The two most efficient procedures to increase the capacity of the connection and its rigidity are to increase the column thickness or increase the sleeve thickness.
Under the effect of seismic loading on the blind bolted connection at a specific distance from the connection, a hysteric behaviour is induced on the connection and the following is observed:
• The blind bolted connections seem to withstand a few numbers of cycles in seismic loading.
• The phenomenon of metal forming is shown clearly when introducing seismic loading procedure. This phenomenon needs to be taken into account in the design of sleeve thickness.
• The phenomenon of bolt slippage is likely to occur and needs further examinations and studies before depending on these types of blind bolted connections in main structural buildings.
• The enlargement of bolt holes in column face is extreme and needs to be considered as a mode of failure not the stress concentration only.
• Column stiffness is one of the main keys in determining the capacity of the connection and its rigidity. Also, it is a main factor in bolt slippage mode of failure.
• The steel grade has a very minor effect on the stiffness and rigidity of the connections.
• The bolt is attached to the sleeve and is considered as the point of fixation of the sleeve when considering the statical system of the sleeve as a cantilever. Hysteric behaviour of the sleeve is more extreme than that of static loading.
• The end plate affects the tension in the critical bolt due to prying effect which is transferred to the sleeve.
• It is recommended to use blind bolted connections in low rise buildings and non-structural elements.
• The most efficient procedure to increase the capacity of the connection and its rigidity under seismic loading is to increase the column thickness.