Techniques for Testing Splice-Plate Connections

As a part of extensive research into the behavior of steel bolted connections, 25 beams with splice-plates at midspan were tested under symmetric two-point loading. The connections consisted of plates welded to the ends of I section beams and connected together by pretensioned high strength bolts at each of the beam flanges. During the testing, special techniques and devices became necessary to load the specimens and to measure their response properly and immediately before ultimate failure. The critical problem of premature failure by torsional twisting was overcome by lateral supports at the load points, ends, and at the connection. Various methods were tried, but the most reliable was found to be caliper gages specially developed for the purpose.