Analysis for Eccentrically Loaded of Steel Bolted Group

Two general approaches for the analysis of eccentrically loaded connections are described in the current AISC Specifications. The first method is the conservative elastic analysis. The second method is the instantaneous center of rotation method which gives more realistic values but is extremely tedious to apply. The 1989 AISC-ASD manual contains design tables intended for vertical loading only. The 2010 AISC manual considers eccentric loading with six specific inclination angles (theta) varying from 0 and to 75 degrees. However, actual loading condition may very likely differ from what has been assumed in the AISC design manual. This study proposes a more generalized solution (75 degrees <= theta <= 360 degrees) to overcome the design limitations as inherently made in the design manual. For uncovered cases, AISC Specifications do not offer a guideline on how to handle them. In such situation, engineers have the tendency to use the unjustified elastic method.