Bolted steel connection – failure by plate tearing

FACT FILE

  • TYPICAL STEEL YIELD STRENGTH
    275 - 460 N/mm2
  • FAILURE MECHANISM
    Plate tearing is one of three failure mechanisms of a bolted connection, see related resources to find out about the other two

Filmed at University College London.

This video shows a bolted connection where the connecting plate fails in tension.

As the load is applied, the plate can be seen deforming; the plate edges bend over and the bolt hole undergoes plastic deformation. Finally, the plate tears along a horizontal line that is coincident with the widest point of the bolt hole.