The knowledge of the load in prestressed bolted connections is essential for the proper operation and safety of engineering structures. Recently, bolted joints have become an area of intensive research associated with non-destructive diagnostics, in particular in the context of wave propagation techniques. In this paper, a novel procedure of bolt load estimation based on the energy of Lamb wave signals was proposed. Experimental tests were performed on a single lap joint of two steel plates. Ultrasonic waves were excited and registered by means of piezoelectric transducers, while precise measurement of the bolt load was obtained by means of using the force washer transducer. Experimental tests were supported by the finite element method analysis based on Schoenberg’s concept. The results showed that the relationship between the bolt load and signal energy was strongly nonlinear and it depended on the location of acquisition points.

Numerical analysis of robustness assessment of steel planar framed structures under sudden external column removal is presented. The analysis is based on the previous experimental and numerical analyzes conducted in the Ph.D. project.Advanced and validated finite element models of steel structures with bolted end plate joints were used using Abaqus software. Six different cases of analysis using flush and extended bolted end-plate joints were performed. The actual results of the axial forces and rotations of the joints, failure models, and other important factors about structure behaviour are presented. The clear division of the results obtained depended on the type of joint used in the structure. In the cases of application of extended end-plate joints in frame analysis, the required level of robustness was reached in all cases and stopping of collapse development was obtained. In all cases of frame analysis with flush end-plate joints, an insufficient level of robustness on progressive collapse was obtained and partial failures of the structures were reached. Due to the location of the external column, the catenary actions to mitigate progressive collapse were very limited.

The current design codes recommend designing the building structures based on the assumption avoiding the disproportionate to the initial cause damage during accidental situation. As a main strategy to mitigate a progressive collapse an alternative load path method is recommended. Flush and extended bolted end-plate joint to connect beam-to-column were experimentally tested. Hierarchical validation of joint FEM models based on experimental test results were performed. The numerical dynamic analysis by finite element method of selected steel frame under column loss scenario is presented. The planar 2D model of frame were used. Shell elements for beams and columns and solid elements for joints were employed respectively. Nonlinear material and geometry were applied in the analysis. Johnson-Cook model was used to describe the change of steel parameters by dynamic Increase Factor (DIF). The Rayleigh model to include the damping effects in the analysis was used. The dynamic analysis was performed with the use of Abaqus/Explicit module. Main conclusion of presented research it that to achieve the required level of robustness, bolted beam-to-column joints with extended end-plate of thickness more than 15 mm should be used.