Swaged bolts: modelling of the installation process and numerical analysis of the mechanical behaviour

Abstract

peer reviewedSwaged bolts are an alternative to high strength (HS) bolts for connections in steel structures. To clarify the different steps involved during their specific installation process, a numerical modelling has been carried out. It allows the relevant phenomena to be described and to be evaluated. This numerical calculation accounts for mechanical plasticity and friction contact between the components of swaged bolts. The finite element code "Lagamine" designed for the forming analysis that requires the modelling of the friction between plastically deformable solids has been used with an original and quite efficient way to take into account the contact. The drawing of the stress distributions during and after the swaging process is the main result of this research