Behaviour of bolted cast iron joints
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Tsiampousi, A
Yu, JBY
Standing, JR
Vollum, R
Potts, DM
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The structural testing and finite element (FE) analysis described in this paper were part of a major research project undertaken at Imperial College London to investigate the deformation of bolted segmental grey cast iron (GCI) tunnel linings. A key aim was to quantify how joints influence the behaviour of the lining, through a three-path approach comprising physical experiments, finite element modelling, and field instrumentation. The laboratory results have been used to assess the validity of the tunnel assessment methods used by industry.
This study examined joint articulation under the serviceability limit state in the absence of hoop force focussing on factors such as applied bolt preload, the loading direction and the freedom of the circumferential flange to deflect. Two half-scale GCI lining segments were bolted together at the longitudinal flanges to form a bolted arch in a similar fashion to the tests performed by Thomas (1977). Modern instrumentation was implemented to gain detailed measurements quantifying changes in global displacements of the two segments, bolt forces and joint opening under applied loading. For the first time, the physical experiments were conducted contemporaneously with the development of a three-dimensional FE model of the joint. The experimental data and the results from the FE analysis indicate a reduction in joint stiffness as the joint articulates under applied load. It is shown that the presence of a joint has far greater influence on the behaviour of the ‘arch’ than the level of preload applied to the bolts in the joint. The FE analysis allowed the deformation behaviour of the joint under positive and negative bending to be investigated: its response under the two modes differs significantly.
This study examined joint articulation under the serviceability limit state in the absence of hoop force focussing on factors such as applied bolt preload, the loading direction and the freedom of the circumferential flange to deflect. Two half-scale GCI lining segments were bolted together at the longitudinal flanges to form a bolted arch in a similar fashion to the tests performed by Thomas (1977). Modern instrumentation was implemented to gain detailed measurements quantifying changes in global displacements of the two segments, bolt forces and joint opening under applied loading. For the first time, the physical experiments were conducted contemporaneously with the development of a three-dimensional FE model of the joint. The experimental data and the results from the FE analysis indicate a reduction in joint stiffness as the joint articulates under applied load. It is shown that the presence of a joint has far greater influence on the behaviour of the ‘arch’ than the level of preload applied to the bolts in the joint. The FE analysis allowed the deformation behaviour of the joint under positive and negative bending to be investigated: its response under the two modes differs significantly.
Date Issued
2017-09-01
Date Acceptance
2017-05-09
Citation
Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2017, 68 (1), pp.113-129
ISSN
0886-7798
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
113
End Page
129
Journal / Book Title
Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology
Volume
68
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Geotechnical Consulting Group
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0886779815301437
Grant Number
EP/G063486/1
GCG Chair
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Construction & Building Technology
Engineering, Civil
Engineering
Grey cast iron
Joint articulation
Geological & Geomatics Engineering
0905 Civil Engineering
0914 Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2017-05-27