I'm not sure that I can envision an application where the bolts are actually in bending (as designed, but I would think that the way to approach the problem would be to apply the interaction formulas given in Table J3.3, per Section J.3.5 (pg 5-72 of the "Green Book").
Scott ~(:-)
The size/dimensions of the structure are imaterial. What is important is the ability of the plates to elongate, thus permitting rotation of the joint (the amount of rotation of course is a function of the length of the beam). That said, how critical is the unwelded length of the plate...
