Product Overview:
In this tutorial, we investigate the simulation of bolt failure in the connection between a steel beam and column using Abaqus. The bolts, steel beam, and column are modeled as three-dimensional parts.

In steel structures, various members such as beams, columns, and plates must be securely fastened together. The primary objective of connection design is to create a joint that is safe, economical, and straightforward. Standardization of connections is crucial, and detailing must allow for sufficient clearance and adjustment to accommodate fit issues, resist corrosion, ensure ease of maintenance, and provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

For this simulation, the steel components are modeled as elastic-plastic materials, incorporating ductile and shear damage criteria to observe the damage and failure across the assembly. A dynamic explicit step is used due to the large deformations involved, which cannot be accurately captured by a standard static solver. Surface-to-surface interactions among all parts are considered, with appropriate contact properties assigned, including friction coefficients and hard contact characteristics.

Fixed boundary conditions are applied to the end of the column, while the beam is subjected to displacement load with a smooth step amplitude. Proper meshing is critical for accurate results, and to achieve this, it is essential to create multiple partitions on all parts for an optimal mesh quality.

After running the simulation, results related to stress, strain, damage, failure, and other parameters are generated. The simulation demonstrates movement of the beam in the Z direction, leading to significant damage in the bolts, resulting in several bolts failing and detaching from the structure.