CE 388

FUNDAMENTALS OF STEEL DESIGN

LECTURE SLIDES
ON
BOLTED CONNECTIONS

by Cem Topkaya, Ph.D. and Mehmet Emrah Eryaşar

Emphasizing AISC360-16

MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Courtesy of AISC

© TOPKAYA, 2020
Courtesy of AISC Courtesy of AISC

Courtesy
of AISC

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 Courtesy of AISC

Courtesy of AISC

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Bolts in Turkey should conform to ISO-898 Standard

Isometric Bolts
4.6
4.8
5.6
5.8
6.8
High-strength 8.8
bolts 10.9

First number indicates the ultimate strength (in MPa) divided by 100.
Second number is a multiplier to find the yield strength

8.8 Grade bolt Fu = 800 MPa Fy = 800  0.8 = 640 MPa

© TOPKAYA, 2020
Courtesy of AISC

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ASTM Bolt Types

A307 – Machine Bolts

Group A – High Strength Bolts

ASTM A325, A325M, F1852, A354 Grade BC, A449

Group B – High Strength Bolts

ASTM A490, A490M, F2280, and A354 Grade BD

Courtesy of AISC
and F2280 are Tension Control Bolts or “Twist-Of

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Courtesy of AISC

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Courtesy of AISC

© TOPKAYA, 2020
 HIGH STRENGTH STRUCTURAL STEEL BOLTS

Types: Head Markings

(Grade 8.8 or 10.9)

Hex - Head
8.8
Ultimate strength Fu = 800MPa
Strength at 0.2% permanent
deformation = 640MPa Bolt Diameter

BOLT LENGTH
10.9
Ultimate strength Fu = 1000MPa
Washer
Thread Length
Strength at 0.2% permanent
deformation = 900MPa

Hex Nut

See standards or manufacturers catalogs for dimensions

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 Grip Washer
Washer Nut
Face

Shank Thread
Head
Length

Courtesy of AISC

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BOLTS & BOLTED CONNECTIONS
Forces on bolts:
Bolts loaded in Bolts in Shear
1. Tension
2. Shear P
3. Shear + Tension P

Bolts in Tension

Bolts in shear and tension

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BOLT STRENGTH IN TENSION

T T

Δ
Δ = bolt elongation T

Tult

10.9
Tult
8.8
Observations
No well defined yield point Proportional limit =“proof load”
Δ
Yield load = proof load

After proof load, yielding concentrated in threaded portion

Tult typically occurs at Δ ≈ 1.3mm to 7.5mm
10.9 is less ductile than 8.8
Yielding is not limit state
“Failure” = fracture of bolt
Failure load = Tn = Tult
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T Rult = load to cause
fracture

Rult = Fu At
Tensile stress area = net area through the threads

For high strength bolts (coarse threads), take At = 0.75 Ab

d
Ab = area of unthreaded portion = ( )² d = bolt diameter
2

Rn = (0.75 Ab )( Fu )
800MPa 8.8
of bolt 
1000MPa 10.9

Rn = Ab (0.75Fu )

Rn = Ab Fnt
Nominal Tensile Strength in MPa
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© TOPKAYA, 2020
 Fnt Fnv

Isometric
bolts

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Bolt Tension Design Strength

Rn = Ab Fnt 600MPa For 8.8

Fnt = 0.75Fu 
750MPa For 10.9
 = 0.75  = 2.00

Ru  Rn Ru : tension force on bolt under LRFD load combinations

R
Ra  n Ra : tension force on bolt under ASD load combinations


Example: M22 Bolt 8.8

22
A b = ( )² = 380mm ²
2

Fu = 800 MPa Fnt = 0.75  800 = 600 MPa

Rn = Ab Fnt = 228 kN Rn = 0.75  228 = 171 kN

Rn 228
= = 114 kN
 2 © TOPKAYA, 2020
STRENGTH OF BOLTS IN SHEAR (Bearing Type Connections)

Single bolt & single shear plane

Very strong plates

Rult
Rult

Rult= max force @ bolt shear failure

“failure” = shear fracture of bolt along shear plane

Rult
 ult = = 0.625Fu
A
Rult

Rult Rult Rult = (0.625Fu ) A

Depends on the location of threads

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Two cases for “A”:

Case1: Threads are excluded from shear plane A = Ab

Rult = ( Ab )(0.625Fu )

Threads Excluded From The Shear Plane

Courtesy of AISC

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Case 2: Threads are included in the shear plane A = 0.8Ab

Rult = (0.8 Ab )(0.625Fu )

Threads Included In The Shear Plane

Courtesy of AISC

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 Single Bolt with Multiple Shear Planes

Rult/2
Rult
Rult/2

Bolt at Failure: Rult

Force on failure planes =  0.625Fu A
2
Rult/2
Rult/2
Rult = 2(0.625Fu )( A)
Rult/2
Rult
Depends on thread location
Rult/2
Rult/2 In general “m” shear planes

Rult/2 Rult = m(0.625Fu )( A)

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 Multiple Bolts in Shear
Pult=max
Pult load based
on bolt
Ru 0.9Ru 0.8Ru 0.9Ru Ru shear
strength
At failure, bolts do not fracture simultaneously, outer bolts fracture first.
For Design
Assume each bolt takes equal share of load “P”
Take Ru = 0.9Rult to account for unequal distribution of bolt forces.

Bearing Bearing
Yield Fracture

Courtesy of AISC © TOPKAYA, 2020

BOLT SHEAR STRENGTH – AISC360 PROVISIONS

Single Shear Plane:

Threads excluded from the shear plane Rn = ( Ab )(0.625Fu )(0.9)

Rn = ( Ab )(0.563Fu ) Accounts for uneven bolt forces

Threads included in shear plane Rn = (0.8 Ab )(0.625Fu )(0.9)

Rn = Ab (0.45Fu ) Reduced area uneven bolt forces
through threads

GENERAL EQUATION FOR BOLT DESIGN SHEAR STRENGTH

Rn = mAb Fnv 0.563Fu threads excluded

Fnv = 
0.450 Fu threads included
 = 0.75
m: number of shear planes
 = 2.00 Ab: gross area of bolt

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 Fnt Fnv

Isometric
bolts

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Example

P P

P/2
P
P/2

Bolts M22 8.8N (Threads included in the shear plane)

Rn = mAb Fnv  = 0.75  = 2.00 m=2 Ab: 380mm²

Fnv = 0.45  800 = 360 MPa

Rn = 2  380  360 / 1000 = 273.6 kN/bolt

Rn = 0.75  273.6 = 205.2 kN/bolt

Rn 273.6
= = 136.8 kN/bolt
 2
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BOLT STRENGTH UNDER COMBINED TENSION AND SHEAR
(BEARING TYPE CONNECTIONS)
Tu

Ru = Factored
Ru shear force on
bolt

Tu = Factored tensile force

Maximum permissible value of Tu and Ru = ?

Fnt'
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 PER AISC Rn = Fnt' Ab
Fnt
Fnt' = 1.3Fnt − f rv  Fnt (LRFD)
Fnv

Fnt
Fnt' = 1.3Fnt − f rv  Fnt (ASD)
Fnv

frv = required shear stress

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 R
 
 Rn tension

Data points

 R
 
 Rn  shear

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 Example: M22 Bolt 8.8-N (Threads included in the shear plane) Single Shear

say Tu = 150kN compute max permissible Ru:

150  103
F =
'
= 526.3 MPa Ab: 380mm²
0.75  380
nt

Fnv = 0.45  800 = 360 MPa

Fnt = 0.75  800 = 600 MPa

600 Ru  43.4kN
526.3 = 1.3  600 − f rv f rv  114.1MPa
0.75  360

1
Rn = 114.1 380  = 43.4 kN
1000

Ru  43.4 kN

© TOPKAYA, 2020
HIGH-STRENGTH BOLTS IN SLIP CRITICAL CONNECTONS

Load Transfer by Friction

N
Frictional Shear
Stresses at base
of block –

Review Concepts of Friction: P resultant = P

N Block

P
Rough
surface

Consider free body diagram of block prior to slip: Pressure distribution at base of
block – resultant = N

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 Increase load P until block slips:
N
Define
Pslip
=
Pslip N
coefficient of friction (dimensionless)

If μ is known, then Pslip =   N

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 Courtesy of AISC

Consider a simple bolted connection made of 2 plates and 1 bolt.

Prior to applying external load P, bolt is tightened. Initial tension in bolt = T

P
P

Initial bolt tension = T

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Consider a free body diagram of the top half of this connection.
Frictional
Shear Stress;
Resultant = P
P

T Clamping
Pressure on
Face of plate;
Resultant = T

Prior to slip, P is transferred by frictional shear stresses at the contact surfaces

of the plates. The bolt sees no shear stresses, only tension.

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The load at which the connection will slip is: Pslip = T  
μ = Slip coefficient (coefficient of friction) of plate surface.

For steel plates, typical values of μ range from 0.3 to 0.5.

If the connection is constructed using more than one bolt: Pslip = N b  T  

Nb = number of bolts T = tension per bolt

If the connection is constructed using more than two plates:

P/2
P
P/2

2 slip planes – each plane resists P/2 Pslip / 2 = N b T  

Pslip = 2  N b T  

In general : PSLIP = N s  N b  T   Ns = number of slip planes

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 Rn = Du h f Tb ns

 = 1.00  = 1.50
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© TOPKAYA, 2020
ns = number of slip planes Tb = minimum bolt tension Du=1.13

Tb = 0.7  Bolt Tensile Strength

A325 A490
Similar to 8.8 Similar to 10.9

hf = coefficient that takes into account fillers

 = 0.3 For class A  = 0.5 For class B

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Example: M22 bolt slip critical, Grade 8.8, double shear, Class A surface

1
Tu = 0.75  800  380  = 228 kN
1000

Tb = 0.7  228 = 159.6 kN

Rn = 0.3 1.13 1.0 159.6  2 = 108.2 kN

Rn = 1.0 108.2 = 108.2 kN (205 kN/bolt when bearing type)

Rn 108.2
= = 72.1 kN (136.8 kN/bolt when bearing type)
 1.5

© TOPKAYA, 2020
LOAD TRANSFER by BEARING and SHEAR
Consider a simple bolted connection made of 2 plates and 1 bolt.
Assume the bolt has no initial tension.

Plate
bearing
against bolt

Consider free body diagrams of top plate and bolts

Bearing stresses on edge of hole (resultant = P)

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Bearing stress
Resultant = P
Resultant = P

Shear stresses in Tear

bolt; resultant = P Out

Bearing

Courtesy of AISC

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BOLTED CONNECTIONS – BEARING STRENGTH
Plate bearing failure = failure of plate at a bolt
Should be checked for bearing and slip critical connections
Types of plate bearing failures:

Excessive hole elongation

R

Hole tear out

R
(hole close to an edge)

R Hole tear out

(holes close together)

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Plate bearing failures are prevented by limiting the shear force on the bolt, R, based on:

• Limiting bearing stress to prevent excessive hole elongation

• Preventing hole tear-out

Note that bearing failures occur in plates, not in bolts. (Bolts are generally stronger
than the plates)
All elements of a connection must be checked for bearing failures.

Definition of Nominal Bearing Stress

t

t R = force
transmitted by
R one bolt in
bearing

Bolt Diameter = d

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 Plan view of top Plate:

R R

Bearing stress on PL; distribution

unknown; Resultant = R

The actual distribution of bearing stress on the edge of the hole is

complex and unknown. For design, we define a “nominal bearing stress”.
R
Nominal bearing stress =
dt
R = force transmitted by bolt d = nominal bolt diameter
t = plate thickness resisting R

d t = nominal bearing area = projected area of bolt on hole

For a thick PL (large t): low nominal bearing stress; failure by bolt shear likely
For a thin PL (small t): high nominal bearing stress; plate bearing failure likely
© TOPKAYA, 2020
Multiple Plates in Bearing
ta
tb
R/2
R

R/2

ta

Bolt Diameter = d

R/2 R
PL’s on right side: nominal bearing stress = =
d  ta 2 ta d

R
PL on left side: nominal bearing stress =
d  tb

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DESIGN BEARING STRENGTH

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DESIGN BEARING STRENGTH
Define ΦRn = Design strength of one bolt based on plate bearing failure (= maximum
factored load that may be transmitted by a bolt in order to prevent plate
bearing failure)
Equations for ΦRn consider two types of bearing failure:
1. Excessive hole elongation
2. Hole tear out (hole tearing towards a free edge or towards an adjacent hole)

Bearing Strength Based on Excessive Hole Elongation

A) For standard holes; oversize holes; short-slotted holes; and long slotted holes
(load parallel to slot)

Limit bearing stress to 2.4 Fu to

ØRn limit hole elongation
(limits elongation to about 6mm)

PL thickness = t

Thus; Rn = 2.4 d t Fu  = 0.75  = 2.00

d: diameter of bolt Fu = Fu of plate

© TOPKAYA, 2020
Bearing Strength Based on Hole Tear-out

A) For standard holes; oversize holes; short-slotted holes; and long

slotted holes (load parallel to slot):
Lc L c

ØRn

Lc = clear distance in the direction of the force, between the edge of the hole and
the edge of the adjacent hole or edge of the material.

To prevent hole tear out, limit design bearing stress to:

Rn = 1.2 lc t Fu  = 0.75  = 2.00

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 Shear strength J3.6
Effective strength of individual fastener = min
Bearing Strength J3.10

Strength of bolt group = Σ effective strength of individual fasteners

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Additional Checks
2
1. Minimum hole spacing center to center of hole  2 d (3d preferred)
3
d: bolt diameter

2
s2 d s
3
s

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2. Minimum edge distance
Distance from center of hole to closest edge
L
 distance given in Table J 3.4M

3. Maximum spacing and edge distance (See J3.5) © TOPKAYA, 2020

 Example : Find Rn based on bolt limit states.
S275 Steel Fy = 275 MPa Fu = 430 MPa M 20 Bolts Standard holes
a) Bearing type connection Grade 10.9 bolts - threads included
b) Slip critical connection Grade 10.9 bolts - Class A surfaces
Check minimum edge distance and minimum spacing

100×100×8

40
mm
Rn Rn
60
mm

20 mm gusset plate 30 75 75 30
mm mm mm mm

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 • Bolt Shear

 (20) 2
Ab = = 314 mm 2 Fu = 1000 MPa Fn = 0.45 1000 = 450 MPa
4
1
 Rn = 0.75  450  314  2  = 212 kN/bolt (double shear )
1000

• Plate bearing angle sections

1.2lc tFu lc  2 d Rn = 2.4dtFu

Rn = lesser of { 
2.4dtFu lc  2 d Rn = 1.2lc tFu

1 2 3

30 mm 75 mm 75 mm

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 1
• Bolt 1 : lc = 30 − (22) = 19 mm  40 mm
2
1
 Rn = 0.75 1.2 19  (2  8)  430  = 118 kN
1000

• Bolts 2&3 : lc = 75 − 22 = 53  40 mm
1
 Rn = 0.75  2.4  20  (2  8)  430  = 248 kN
1000

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• Plate bearing – Gusset Plate

1 2 3

75 mm 75 mm 30 mm

• Bolts 1&2 : lc = 75 − 22 = 53 mm  40 mm
1
 Rn = 0.75  2.4  20  20  430  = 310 kN
1000
1
• Bolt 3 : lc = 30 − ( 22) = 19 mm  40 mm
2
1
 Rn = 0.75 1.2 19  20  430  = 147 kN
1000

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Summary

Bearing Bearing
Bolt Bolt Shear min
angles Gusset

1 212 118 310 118

2 212 248 310 212

3 212 248 147 147

2
min spacing 2 (20) = 53  75 OK
 = 477
3
min edge distance  Rn = 477 kN
Table J 3.4M 26 mm  30 OK

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b) Slip Critical Connection
1
Tu = 0.75 1000  314  = 236 kN Tb = 0.7  236 = 165 kN
1000
 = 0 .3
Rn = 1.0  0.3 1.13 1.0 165  2 = 112 kN/bolt
Bearing Bearing
Bolt Slip min
angles Gusset

1 112 118 310 112

2 112 248 310 112

3 112 248 147 112

 Rn = 336 kN
 = 336
© TOPKAYA, 2020
Elastic Analysis of Bolt Groups
In Plane Loading (No Tension)

Y
Pure shear is equally distributed to bolts

Fx Fy
Vix' = V = '
iy
Fy n n
Fx n = number of bolts
X
T V’’iy Torque produces shear loads on bolts
ri
V’’ix T  yi T  xi
Vix'' = Viy'' =
 ri2  ri2

 r =  (x
i
2 2
i + yi2 )

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 Out-of Plane Loading

V
V =
M iy n

M  yi
Ni Ni =
 yi2
yi
Center of Rotation

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Example: For the eccentric connection shown below determine Pu .
Consider bolt limit states only. Grade 10.9 bolts. M20 bolts standard holes.
Threads included in the shear plane. All members S275 Fy=275 MPa Fu=430 MPa
All plates 10mm thick. Use LRFD

80 mm Pu
2Pu

60

60 y
300
60 x mm

60

60
mm

100 100
mm mm © TOPKAYA, 2020
 T = 2 Pu 150 + Pu  200 2 Pu
Vix' = = 0.25 Pu
T = 500 Pu 8
r = 8  (40) 2 + 4  (30) 2 + 4  (90 )
2
2 P
i Viy' = u = 0.125 Pu
r
8
i
2
= 48800mm 2

Bolts further away from the center are critical

500 Pu  90 500 Pu  40
V ' 'ix = = 0.922 Pu V ' 'iy = = 0.41Pu
48800 48800

Vi = (0.25 + 0.92) 2 + (0.125 + 0.41) 2 Pu = 1.29 Pu

 (20) 2
1
Rn = 0.75  0.45 1000  
= 106 kN shear
4 1000
1
Lc  2d Rn = 0.75  2.4  20 10  430  = 154.8 kN bearing
1000

106
shear governs Pu = = 82.2 kN
1.29

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Example: For the connection shown below determine if Pu can be safely carried.
Consider bolt limit states only. Grade 8.8 bolts. Threads included in the shear plane.
All members S275 Fy=275 MPa Fu=430 MPa. M20 bolts standard holes. Use LRFD.

Ab =314 mm2
Pu =700kN
50
HEB200 80
80
500 80
mm
80
80
200 mm 50
mm
10mm thick 200 mm
plate

© TOPKAYA, 2020
Analysis of bolt group V= Pu M=200Pu

Pu
Vi = = 0.0833Pu
12

y 2
i = 2(80 2 + 160 2 + 240 2 + 320 2 + 400 2 )
y 2
i = 704000 mm 2

200 Pu  400
Ni = = 0.1136 Pu
704000
Vi = 0.0833Pu  700 = 58.3 kN
58.3 103
f rv = = 185.6 MPa
314
Fnt = 0.75  800 = 600 MPa
Fnv = 0.45  800 = 360 MPa

© TOPKAYA, 2020
 600
Fnt' = 1.3  600 − 185.6 = 368 MPa  600 OK
0.75  360

1
Rn = 368  314  = 115 kN
1000
Rn = 0.75 115 = 86.2 kN

N i = 0.1136  700 = 79.5 kN  86.2 kN OK

Check bearing tf=15mm tplate=10mm tplate controls

1
Lc = 50 − 22 = 39  2d = 40 mm
2
430
Rn = 0.75 1.2  39 10  = 151 kN  58.3 kN OK
1000

© TOPKAYA, 2020