Investigation of the Tensile Properties of High-Strength Bolted Joints in Static Drill Rooted Nodular Piles

To address the persistence of traditional welded joints in the construction of static drill rooted nodular piles, high-strength bolted connections are introduced. Tensile performance tests were conducted on seven sets of full-scale joint specimens to evaluate the ultimate tensile bearing capacity, deformation ductility, and damage characteristics of high-strength bolted joints. Numerical models were established using ABAQUS 2020 software to complement the experimental findings. The results indicate that the ultimate tensile capacity test values of high-strength bolted joints and welded joints are comparable, both exceeding the values calculated by the pile ultimate tensile capacity specification formula. Moreover, the ultimate tensile capacity values of specimens with improved high-strength bolted joints surpass those of ordinary joints. Notably, in the final stages of testing, both high-strength bolted joints and welded joints experienced pull-off at the pier head of the prestressing reinforcement, with the joints remaining intact. The load-displacement curves obtained from the ABAQUS numerical model align closely with the experimental measurements. These findings offer valuable insights and serve as an experimental foundation for promoting the adoption and utilization of high-strength bolt joints.