Connections in Thin Low-Ductility Steels

Abstract

Bolted and fillet welded connections fabricated from flat sheets of thin low-ductility low carbon steels were tested as part of a research program investigating the influence of ductility on the behavior of cold-formed members under static loading. Material elongation in a 2-in. gage length ranged from 4% to 8%, while the tensile to yield strength ratio ranged from 1.0 to 1.1. Standard tension coupon test procedures were modified to distringuish between local and uniform ductility of the material. The load carrying capacity of the connections can be predicted by equations similar to those for high ductility steels.