5.1 This test method provides a procedure for testing to determine the ultimate strength in compression of bolted longitudinal seams with lapped connections in deep corrugated structural plate. This test method is applicable to variable length longitudinal seams with circumferential seams between adjacent plates.

Note 1: The testing is intended for bolted longitudinal seams in plate with the following corrugation sizes in Practice A796/A796M: 15 in. by 5.5. in. (Practice A796/A796M Tables 34 and 35), 20 in. by 9.5 in. (Practice A796/A796M Tables 36 and 37), and 16 in. by 6 in. (Practice A796/A796M Table 38 and 39).

5.2 The maximum load achieved in this testing, along with normalization procedures in this test method, are used to establish values for ultimate strength of bolted structural plate longitudinal seams for design in accordance with Practice A796/A796M.

This test method provides a comprehensive procedure for determining the seam strength for bolted longitudinal lapped seams in deep corrugated structural steel plates. It includes a laboratory test procedure which specifies specimen preparation, test equipment, and data collection, as well as a method for calculating seam strength from the test results. This test method is applicable to variable length longitudinal seams with circumferential seams between adjacent plates. Test specimens are loaded in uniform compression along their top and bottom faces until failure. Normalization processes are intended to address differences between test specimens and installed structure seams.

In addition to specimens and procedure, this test method also covers the apparatus to be used, conditioning, calculation, information to be reported, and precision and bias.