A new generalised component method for predicting the full range behaviour of bolted bearing type joints

This paper develops a new generalized component method (GCM) model for bolted bearing type connections to capture the full‐range response and all relevant limit states, including the bolt shear, bearing, shear‐out, net section fracture, and block shear limit states. The proposed model divides a bolted bearing type joint into components that significantly contribute to its deformation and/or strength limit states. For each component, the force‐deformation curve is derived including the post‐ultimate behavior. The new component model is developed in the context of the generalized component method to predict the full‐range joint moment‐rotation response. The proposed GCM can consider the interaction of adjacent bolts in modelling multi‐bolt connections. The new GCM is validated through experimental tests and fully nonlinear finite element analyses, and compared with predictions by the Eurocode 3 component method.