5.

12 SECTION FIVE

cedure. Holes drilled or punched by numerically controlled equipment are formed to size
through individual pieces, but they may instead be formed by drilling through any combi-
nation of pieces held tightly together.
In railway bridges, holes for shop and field bolts may be punched full size, within the
limits of Table 5.5, in members that will not be stressed by vertical live loads. This provision
applies to, but is not limited to, the following: stitch bolts, bracing (lateral, longitudinal, or
sway bracing) and connecting material, lacing stay plates, diaphragms that do not transfer
shear or other forces, inactive fillers, and stiffeners not at bearing points.
Shop-bolt holes to be reamed may be subpunched. Methods permitted for shop-bolt holes
in rolled beams and plate girders, including stiffeners and active fillers at bearing points,
depend on material thickness and, in some cases, on strength. In materials not thicker than
the nominal bolt diameter less 1⁄8 in, the holes should be subpunched 1⁄8 in less in diameter
than the finished holes and then reamed to size with parts assembled. In A36 material thicker
than 7⁄8 in (3⁄4 in for high-strength steels), the holes should be subdrilled 1⁄4 in less in diameter
than the finished holes and then reamed to size with parts assembled.
A special provision applies to the case where matching shop-bolt holes in two or more
plies are required to be reamed with parts assembled. If the assembly consists of more than
five plies with more than three plies of main material, the matching holes in the other plies
also should be reamed with parts assembled. Holes in those plies should be subpunched 1⁄8
in less in diameter than the finished hole.
Other shop-bolt holes should be subpunched 1⁄4 in less in diameter than the finished hole
and then reamed to size with parts assembled.
Field splices in plate girders and in truss chords should be reamed or drilled full size
with members assembled. Truss-chord assemblies should consist of at least three abutting
sections. Milled ends of the compression chords should have full bearing.
Field-bolt holes may be subpunched or subdrilled 1⁄4 in less in diameter than finished
holes in individual pieces. The subsized holes should then be reamed to size through steel
templates with hardened steel bushings. In A36 steel thicker than 7⁄8 in (3⁄4 in for high-
strength steels), field-bolt holes may be subdrilled 1⁄4 in less in diameter than the finished
holes and then reamed to size with parts assembled or drilled full size with parts assembled.
Field-bolt holes for sway bracing should conform to the requirements for shop-bolt holes.
If numerically controlled equipment is used to punch or drill holes, requirements are
similar to those for highway bridges.

5.9 MINIMUM NUMBER OF FASTENERS

In buildings, connections carrying calculated stresses, except lacing, sag bars, and girts,
should be designed to support at least 6 kips.
In highway bridges, connections, including angle bracing but not lacing bars and hand-
rails, should contain at least two fasteners. Web shear splices should have at least two rows
of fasteners on each side of the joint.
In railroad bridges, connections should have at least three fasteners per plane of connec-
tion.

Long Grips. In buildings, if A307 bolts in a connection carry calculated stress and have
grips exceeding five diameters, the number of these fasteners used in the connection should
be increased 1% for each additional 1⁄16 in in the grip.
 CONNECTIONS 5.13

5.10 CLEARANCES FOR FASTENERS

Designs should provide ample clearance for

tightening high-strength bolts. Detailers who
prepare shop drawings for fabricators gen-
erally are aware of the necessity for this and
can, with careful detailing, secure the nec-
essary space. In tight situations, the solution
may be staggering of holes (Fig. 5.6), vari-
ations from standard gages (Fig. 5.7), use of
knife-type connections, or use of a combi-
nation of shop welds and field bolts.
Minimum clearances for tightening high-
strength bolts are indicated in Fig. 5.8 and
Table 5.6.
FIGURE 5.6 Staggered holes provide clearance for
high-strength bolts.

5.11 FASTENER SPACING

Pitch is the distance (in) along the line of principal stress between centers of adjacent fas-
teners. It may be measured along one or more lines of fasteners. For example, suppose bolts
are staggered along two parallel lines. The pitch may be given as the distance between
successive bolts in each line separately. Or it may be given as the distance, measured parallel
to the fastener lines, between a bolt in one line and the nearest bolt in the other line.
Gage is the distance (in) between adjacent lines of fasteners along which pitch is mea-
sured or the distance (in) from the back of an angle or other shape to the first line of fasteners.
The minimum distance between centers of fasteners should be at least three times the
fastener diameter. (The AISC specification, however, permits 22⁄3 times the fastener diameter.)
Limitations also are set on maximum spacing of fasteners, for several reasons. In built-
up members, stitch fasteners, with restricted spacings, are used between components to
ensure uniform action. Also, in compression members, such fasteners are required to prevent
local buckling. In bridges, sealing fasteners must be closely spaced to seal the edges of

FIGURE 5.7 Increasing the gage in framing angles FIGURE 5.8 The usual minimum clearances A for
provides clearance for high-strength bolts. high-strength bolts are given in Table 5.6.
5.14 SECTION FIVE

TABLE 5.6 Clearances for High-Strength Bolts

Min clearance for

twist-off bolts, in
Usual min A
clearance, in
Bolt dia, in Nut height, in A Small tool Large tool

5 5
⁄8 ⁄8 1 15⁄8 —
3 3
⁄4 ⁄4 11⁄4 15⁄8 17⁄8
7 7
⁄8 ⁄8 13⁄8 15⁄8 17⁄8
1 1 17⁄16 17⁄8
11⁄8 11⁄8 19⁄16 —
11⁄4 11⁄4 111⁄16 —

plates and shapes in contact to prevent penetration of moisture. Maximum spacing of fas-
teners is governed by the requirements for sealing or stitching, whichever requires the smaller
spacing.
For sealing, AASHTO specifications require that the pitch of fasteners on a single line
adjoining a free edge of an outside plate or shape should not exceed 7 in or 4 ⫹ 4t in, where
t is the thickness (in) of the thinner outside plate or shape (Fig. 5.9a). (See also the maximum
edge distance, Art. 5.12). If there is a second line of fasteners uniformly staggered with
those in the line near the free edge, a smaller pitch for the two lines can be used if the gage
g (in) for these lines is less than 11⁄2 ⫹ 4t. In this case, the staggered pitch (in) should not
exceed 4 ⫹ 4t ⫺ 3⁄4g or 7 in but need not be less than half the requirement for a single line
(Fig. 5.9b). See AASHTO specifications for requirements for stitch fasteners.
Bolted joints in unpainted weathering steel require special limitations on pitch: 14 times
the thickness of the thinnest part, not to exceed 7 in (AISC specification).

5.12 EDGE DISTANCE OF FASTNERS

Minimum distances from centers of fasteners to any edges are given in Tables 5.7 and 5.8.
The AISC specifications for structural steel for buildings have the following provisions
for minimum edge distance: The distance from the center of a standard hole to an edge of
a connected part should not be less than the applicable value from Table 5.7 nor the value
from the equation
Le ⱕ 2P / Fut (5.1)
where Le ⫽ the distance from the center of a standard hole to the edge of the connected
part, in
P ⫽ force transmitted by one fastener to the critical connected part, kips
Fu ⫽ specified minimum tensile strength of the critical connected part, ksi
t ⫽ thickness of the critical connected part, in
Also, Le should not be less than 11⁄2d when Fp ⫽ 1. 2Fu, where d is the diameter of the bolt
(in) and Fp is the allowable bearing stress of the critical connected part (ksi).
The AASHTO specifications for highway bridges require the minimum distance from the
center of any bolt in a standard hole to a sheared or flame-cut edge to be as shown in Table
5.8. When there is only a single transverse fastener in the direction of the line of force in a
standard or short slotted hole, the distance from the center of the hole to the edge connected
part (ASD specifications) should not be less than 11⁄2d when
 CONNECTIONS 5.15

FIGURE 5.9 Maximum pitch of bolts for sealing. (a) Single line of bolts.
(b) Double line of bolts.

0.5LeFu
Fp ⫽ (5.1a)
d

where Fu ⫽ specified minimum tensile strength of conection material, ksi

Le ⫽ clear distance between holes or between hole and edge of material in direction
of applied force, in
d ⫽ nominal bolt diameter, in

The AREMA Manual requirement for minimum edge distance for a sheared edge is given
in Table 5.8. The distance between the center of the nearest bolt and the end of the connected
part toward which the pressure of the bolt is directed should be not less than 2dfp / Fu, where

TABLE 5.7 Minimum Edge Distances (in) for Fastener

Holes in Steel for Buildings

At rolled edges of
Fastener At sheared plates, shapes, or bars
diameter, in edges or gas-cut edges*

1 7 3
⁄2 ⁄8 ⁄4
5
⁄8 11⁄8 7
⁄8
3
⁄4 11⁄4 1
7
⁄8 11⁄2† 11⁄8
1 13⁄4† 11⁄4
11⁄8 2 11⁄2
11⁄4 21⁄4 15⁄8
Over 11⁄4 13⁄4d‡ 11⁄4d‡

* All edge distances in this column may be reduced 1⁄8 in when

the hole is at a point where stress does not exceed 25% of the
maximum allowed stress in the element.
† These may be 11⁄4 in at the ends of beam connection angles.
‡ d ⫽ fastener diameter in.
From AISC ‘‘Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.’’
5.16 SECTION FIVE

TABLE 5.8 Minimum Edge Distances (in) for Fastener Holes in Steel for Bridges

At sheared or flame-cut In flanges of beams or At other rolled or

edges channels planed edges
Fastener
diameter, in Highway Railroad Highway Railroad Highway Railroad

1 7 5 3
⁄2 ⁄8 ⁄8 4 ⁄
5
⁄8 11⁄8 11⁄8 7
⁄8 13
16⁄ 1 15
⁄16
3
⁄4 11⁄4 15⁄16 1 15
16⁄ 11⁄8 11⁄8
7
⁄8 11⁄2 11⁄2 11⁄8 1⁄1
8 11⁄4 11⁄2
Over 1 13⁄4 13⁄4d* 11⁄4 1
1 ⁄ d*
4 11⁄2 11⁄2d*

* d ⫽ fastener diameter, in.

d is the diameter of the bolt (in) and ƒp is the computed bearing stress due to the service
load (ksi).
Maximum edge distances are set for sealing and stitch purposes. AISC specifications
limit the distance from center of fastener to nearest edge of parts in contact to 12 times the
thickness of the connected part, with a maximum of 6 in. The AASHTO maximum is 5 in
or 8 times the thickness of the thinnest outside plate. (AISC gives the same requirement for
unpainted weathering steel.) The AREMA maximum is 6 in or 4 times the plate thickness
plus 1.5 in.

5.13 FILLERS

A filler is a plate inserted in a splice between a gusset or splice plate and stress-carrying
members to fill a gap between them. Requirements for fillers included in the AISC specifi-
cations for structural steel for buildings are as follows.
In welded construction, a filler 1⁄4 in or more thick should extend beyond the edge of the
splice plate and be welded to the part on which it is fitted (Fig. 5.10). The welds should be

FIGURE 5.10 Typical welded splice of columns when depth Du of the upper
column is nominally 2 in less than depth DL of the lower column.