Steel structure

Bolted Connections

Part 7: Design considerations for bolts (Page 892 of pdf document of 14th
edition)

Chapter J: Design of Connections (Page 169 of pdf document of 15th edition of

specifications)
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This lecture will cover

1. Types of connectors: Rivets and Bolts

2. Types Bolted Connections

3. Tightening procedures

4. Hole Types

5. Types of connection failures

6. Strength

7. Basis of AISC Equations

8. Example Problems
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1. Types of Connectors
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Types of Connectors

Components which make up the complete structure are fastened together by

means of:

RIVETS (older version)

BOLTS (newer version)
WELDS
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Types of Connectors

Rivets:
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Types of Connectors

Rivets:

They are made from rivet bar stock in a machine which forms one head and
shears the rivet to desired length.

Steel rivets are always heated before driving

Most rivets are driven by pressure-type riveters which complete riveting in

one stroke.

In riveted connections magnitude of clamping is function of length of rivet

and magnitude of shrinkage after the head is formed.

Magnitude of slip depends on the extent to which rivet fills the hole.
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Types of Connectors

Rivets

There were three ASTM classifications for rivets for structural steel
applications

ASTM Specification A502, Grade 1 (carbon steel)

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Types of Connectors

Rivets

There were three ASTM classifications for rivets for structural steel
applications

ASTM Specification A502, Grade 2 (carbon-manganese steel)

ASTM Specification A502, Grade 3

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Types of Connectors

Rivets:

Countersunk Rivet
Round Head Rivet
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Types of Connectors

Rivets: Riveting processes

Rivet Heating Oven Rivet Heater

Modern Riveting Gun

Earlier Riveting Gun

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Types of Connectors

Rivets: Riveting processes

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Types of Connectors

Rivets: Causes of rivet obsolescence (structural non usage rivets)

Riveting is still used in some industries and applications such as aircraft

industry

Riveting required a crew of 4 to 5 experienced riveters as well as more

inspection. While crews required for high-strength bolts installation do not
need to be highly skilled

Riveting is time consuming operation requiring preheating, driving and

finishing
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Types of Connectors

Rivets: Causes of rivet obsolescence (structural non usage rivets)

Rivet strength is low compared to high strength bolts

They were also somewhat more dangerous in that the rivets would have to
be heated and installed at a very high temperature (about 1000°F).

While high-strength bolts have a greater material cost, they are installed
with a greater degree of safety and with less labor.

Riveting is still used in some industries and applications such as aircraft

industry
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Types of Connectors

Bolts: Two common types of bolts are:

Unfinished (A307)
A307 is known by names unfinished, rough, common,
ordinary and machine.
They are made of low carbon steel having tensile
strength of 60Ksi.

High strength bolt (A325,A449,A490).

A325 is made of medium carbon steel whose tensile
strength decreases with increase in dia.
High strength bolts can be tightened to large tensions.
Typical High Strength Bolt
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Parts of the bolt assembly

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Types of Connectors

Bolts: Two common types of bolts are:

Unfinished (A307)

Unfinished bolts conform to ASTM A307 and are generally used in secondary
structures, such as handrails, light stairs, service platforms, and other similar
structures that are not subject to cyclical loads or where the loads are small and
static in nature.

Unfinished bolts have a lower load carrying capacity than high-strength bolts;
therefore, their use should be limited to secondary structures that typically have
lighter loads.
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Types of Connectors

Bolts: Two common types of bolts are:

High strength bolt (A325,A449,A490).

High-strength bolts may be tightened until they have very high tensile
stresses so that the connected parts are clamped tightly together between
the bolt and nut heads, permitting loads to be transferred primarily by friction.

High-strength bolts are the most common type of bolt used in steel
Structures from small building to skyscrapers and monumental bridges

High-strength bolts conform to either ASTM A325 or ASTM A490 and can be
used in bearing, as well as slip-critical connections.
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Types of Connectors

Bolts: Two common types of bolts are:

High strength bolt (A325,A449,A490).

The most common diameters used in building construction are ¾ in. and 7/8
in., whereas the most common sizes in bridge design are 7/8 in. and 1 in.

A449 bolts are occasionally used when diameter over 1.5 in. up to 3 in. are
needed, and also for anchor bolts and threaded rods.

For anchor rods, ASTM F1554 threaded rods are preferred.

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Types of Connectors
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Types of Connectors

Tensile Strength of bolt, Fnt

The nominal tensile stress values in tables J3.2 were obtained from the equation
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Types of Connectors

Tensile Strength of bolt, Fnt

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Types of Connectors

Tensile Strength of bolt, Fnt

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Types of Connectors

Loading condition (number of planes)

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Types of Connectors

Thread in shear plane

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Types of Connectors
Example

φRn = φFnAb,
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Types of Connectors

Bolt shear design

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Types of Connectors

Shear Strength of Fasteners

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Types of Connectors

Shear Strength of Fasteners

• The ultimate (nominal) shear strength was found experimentally to be about

62% of ultimate tensile strength.

• LRFD has adopted phi = 0.75 since 1993, replacing 0.65 factor for connection
design.

• This change requires the nominal shear strength be reduced by approximately

20% which leads to 0.62*0.8 = 0.5 factor.

• A further decrease of 25% is applied for cases where threads are not excluded
such that 0.5*0.75 = 0.4.
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2. Types Bolted Connections

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Types of Bolted Connections

There are three basic joint types that we will consider:

1. Snug tight
2. Pretensioned
3. Slip critical.

• The differences among these joint types are essentially the amount of
clamping force that is achieved when tightening the bolts and the degree to
which the connected parts can move while in service.

• The contact area between the connected parts is called the faying surface.

• In any project, the engineer must indicate the joint type and the faying
surface that are to be used for any given connection.
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Types of Bolted Connections

1. Snug-Tight Connection

(snug being defined as the tightness necessary to bring all elements of the
connection into firm contact).
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Types of Bolted Connections

1. Snug-Tight Connection

• A snug-tight condition occurs when the bolts are in direct bearing and the
plies of a connection are in firm contact.

• This can be accomplished by the full effort of a worker using a spud wrench,
which is an open-ended wrench approximately 16 in. long.

• A snug-tight joint can be specified for most simple shear connections, as well
as tension-only connections.

• Snug-tight joints are not permitted for connections supporting non static
loads, nor are they permitted with A490 bolts loaded in tension.

• There is generally no need to limit the actual level of pretension in snug

tightened joints, per RCSC specification section 9.1.

• Research Council on Structural Connections (RCSC) specification section 4.1

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Types of Bolted Connections

1. Snug-Tight Connection
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Types of Bolted Connections

1. Snug-Tight Connection

spud wrench
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Types of Bolted Connections

Pretensioned Connection

• A pretensioned joint has a greater amount of clamping force than the snug
tight condition and therefore provides a greater degree of slip-resistance in
the joint.

• Pretensioned joints are used for joints that are subject to cyclical loads or
fatigue loads.

• They are also required for joints with A490 bolts in tension.

• Some specific examples of connections where pretensioned joints should be

specified are
• Column splices in buildings with high height-to-width ratios,
• Connections within the load path of the lateral force resisting system, and
• Connections supporting impact or cyclical loads such as cranes or
machinery.
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Types of Bolted Connections

Pretensioned Connection

In certain cases, high-strength bolts are

installed to such a degree of tightness
that they are subjected to extremely
large tensile forces.

For example, the initial tension in a

5⁄8-inch-diameter, Group A bolt can be
as high as 19 kips. A complete list of
minimum tension values, for those
connections in which a minimum
tension is required, is given in AISC
Table J3.1, “Minimum Bolt Pretension.”

Each value is equal to 70% of the

minimum tensile strength of the bolt.
The purpose of such a large tensile
force is to achieve the clamping force
illustrated in Figure . Such bolts are
said to be fully tensioned
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Types of Bolted Connections
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Types of Bolted Connections

Pretensioned Connection

As a nut is turned and advanced along

the threads of a bolt, the connected
parts undergo compression and the bolt
elongates. The free-body diagrams in
Figure a show that the total
compressive force acting on the
connected part is numerically
equal to the tension in the bolt.

If an external load P is applied, a friction

force will develop between the
connected parts. The maximum
possible value of this force is

F = μN
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Types of Bolted Connections

Pretensioned Connection
F = μN
where μ is the coefficient of static friction
between the connected parts, and N is the
normal compressive force acting on the
inner surfaces.

The value of μ will depend on the surface

condition of the steel—for example,
whether it is painted or whether rust is
present. Thus each bolt in the connection
is capable of resisting a load of P = F, even
if the bolt shank does not bear on the
connected part. As long as this frictional
force is not exceeded, there is no bearing
or shear.

If P is greater than F and slippage occurs,

shear and bearing will then exist and will
affect the capacity of the connection.
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Types of Bolted Connections

Pretensioned Connection
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Types of Bolted Connections

Pretensioned Connection

• It is important to note that the design strength of a pretensioned joint is

equal to that of a snug tightened joint.

• In a pretensioned joint, slip is prevented until the friction force is exceeded.

• Once the friction force is exceeded, the bolts slip into direct bearing and the
pretension or clamping force is essentially zero (i.e., equivalent to a snugtight
condition).

• For both snug tight and pretensioned bolts, the faying surface is permitted
to be uncoated, painted, or galvanized, but must be free of dirt and other
foreign material.

• The AISC specification stipulates that the minimum required clamping force
should be at least 70% of the nominal tensile strength, R n, of the fastener.

• RCSC specification section 4.2

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Types of Bolted Connections
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Types of Bolted Connections

In order to achieve this minimum tensile force, the bolts must be installed by
one of the following methods:

1. Turn of the Nut: When a nut is advanced along the length of a bolt, each turn
corresponds to a certain amount of tensile force in the bolt. Therefore, there is a
known relationship between the number of turns and the amount of tension in
the bolt. The starting point (i.e., a point where the tensile force in the bolt is just
above zero) is defined as the snug-tight condition.

2. Calibrated Wrench Tightening: For this method, calibrated wrenches are used
so that a minimum torque is obtained, which corresponds to a specific tensile
force in the bolt. On any given project, the calibration has to be done daily for
each size and grade of bolt.
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Types of Bolted Connections

In order to achieve this minimum tensile force, the bolts must be installed by
one of the following methods:

3. Twist-off-type Tension-control Bolts: these bolts conform to ASTM F1852 and

are equivalent to ASTM A325 for strength and design. These bolts have a
splined end that breaks off when the bolt is tightened with a special wrench (see
Figure).

Twist-off-type Tension-control Bolts

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Types of Bolted Connections

In order to achieve this minimum tensile force, the bolts must be installed by
one of the following methods:

4. Direct tension indicator: Washers that conform to ASTM F959 have ribbed
protrusions on the bearing surface that compress in a controlled manner such
that it is proportional to the tension in the bolt (see Figure). The deformation in
the ribs is measured to determine whether the proper tension has been
achieved.

Direct tension indicator washer

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Types of Bolted Connections

Slip-Critical Connection

• This type of joint is similar to a pretensioned joint except that failure is

assumed to occur when the applied load is greater than the friction force and
thus slip does not occur between the faying surfaces.

• As with pretensioned joints, slip-critical joints are used for joints subjected to
cyclical loads or fatigue loads.

• They should also be used in connections that have slotted holes parallel to the
direction of the load or in connections that use a combination of welds and
bolts along the same faying surface.

• The amount of pretension or clamping force for a slip-critical bolt is the same
that was used for pretensioned joints.

• The design strength of a slip-critical joint is generally lower than that of a

bearing type connection since the friction resistance is usually lower than any
other failure mode for a bolt (such as direct shear or bearing).

• RCSC specification section 4.3

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Types of Bolted Connections

Slip-Critical Connection
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Types of Bolted Connections

Behavior of Bolted & Riveted connections

T T

T = Tensile Force on Connection

∆ = Joint Displacement
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Types of Bolted Connections

Behavior of Bolted, welded & Riveted connections

T T

T = Tensile Force on Connection

∆ = Joint Displacement

Comparison of tension members

with bolted and welded connections
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Types of Bolted Connections
Typical Connections
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Types of Bolted Connections
Typical Connections
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3. Tightening procedures
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Tightening Procedure

1. Turn of the nut method

2. Calibrated-wrench tightening

3. Direct-tension-indicator tightening

4. Twist-off-type Tension-control Bolts

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Tightening Procedures

1. Turn of the Nut

• When a nut is advanced along the length of a bolt, each turn corresponds to
a certain amount of tensile force in the bolt.

• Therefore, there is a known relationship between the number of turns and

the amount of tension in the bolt.

• The starting point (i.e., a point where the tensile force in the bolt is just
above zero) is defined as the snug-tight condition.
 Steel structure
Tightening Procedures

2. Calibrated Wrench Tightening

• For this method, calibrated wrenches are used so that a minimum torque is
obtained, which corresponds to a specific tensile force in the bolt.

• On any given project, the calibration has to be done daily for each size and
grade of bolt.
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Tightening Procedures
2. Calibrated Wrench Tightening

Torque Wrench
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Tightening Procedures

3. Direct tension indicator

• Washers that conform to ASTM F959 have ribbed protrusions on the

bearing surface that compress in a controlled manner such that it is
proportional to the tension in the bolt.

• The deformation in the ribs is measured to determine whether the proper

tension has been achieved.
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Tightening Procedures

3. Direct tension indicator

 Steel structure
Tightening Procedures

4. Twist-off-type Tension-control Bolts

• These bolts conform to ASTM F1852 and are equivalent to ASTM A325 for
strength and design.

• These bolts have a splined end that breaks off when the bolt is tightened
with a special wrench.
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Tightening Procedures

4. Twist-off-type Tension-control Bolts

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4. Hole Types
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Hole Types
• There are four basic hole types recognized in the AISC specification:
1. Standard
2. Oversized
3. Short-slotted
4. Long-slotted.

• Table J3.3 in the AISCM lists the actual hole sizes for each bolt diameter and
hole type.
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Hole Types

• Table J3.3 in the AISCM lists the actual hole sizes for each bolt diameter and
hole type.
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Hole Types
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Hole Types
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Hole Types

• Table J3.3 in the AISCM lists the actual hole sizes

for each bolt diameter and hole type.
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Hole Types

• Each hole type offers varying degrees of flexibility in the construction of the
connections.

• Standard holes are the most common and are generally used for bolts in
direct bearing.

• The AISCM, Section B13.b indicates that when calculating the net area for
shear and tension, an additional 1/16 in. should be added to the hole size to
account for the roughened edges that result from the punching or drilling
process.

• For standard holes, the hole size used for strength calculations would be the
value from the AISCM, Table J3.3 (or Figure 9-3) plus 1/16 in.

• Oversized holes (OVS) may be used in all plies of connections as long as the
applied load does not exceed the permissible slip resistance. They may not
be used in bearing-type connections.
 Steel structure
Hole Types
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Hole Types

• Short-slotted holes (SSL) may be used regardless of the direction of the

applied load for slip-critical connections. For bearing type connections,
however, the slots must be perpendicular to the direction of loading. Should
the load be applied in a direction approximately normal (between 80 and
100 degrees) to the slot, these holes may be used in any or all plies of
connections for bearing-type connections.

• Long-slotted holes (LSL) may be used in only one of the connected parts of
slip critical or bearing-type connections at any one faying surface. For slip
critical joints these holes may be used in any direction, but for bearing-type
connections the loads must be normal (between 80 and 100 degrees) to the
axes of the slotted holes
 Steel structure
Hole Types

• For column bases, it has been recognized that the embedment of anchor
rods into a concrete foundation generally does not occur within desirable
tolerances and thus has led to numerous errors in the alignment of the
columns.

• One way to mitigate this problem is to provide larger holes in the column
base plates to allow for misaligned anchor rods.

• Table 9-2 indicates the recommended maximum hole sizes in column base
plates.
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Hole Types

• Table 9-2 indicates the recommended maximum hole sizes in column base
plates.
 Steel structure
Hole Types

• In order to allow for standard fabrication procedures, as well as workmanship

tolerances, the AISCM, Section J3.3 recommends that the minimum spacing
between bolts be at least 3d, with an absolute minimum of 2-2⁄3 d, where d is the
bolt diameter.

• The minimum distance in any direction from the center of a standard hole to
an edge is given in the AISCM, Table J3.4.

• In general, the minimum edge distance is approximately 1.75d for bolts near
a sheared edge and approximately 1.25d for bolts near a rolled or thermally
cut edge (see Figure 9-4).
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Hole Types

Edge and spacing requirements:

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Hole Types

Edge and spacing requirements:

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5. Types of connection failures

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Types of connection failures
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Types of connection failures
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Types of connection failures

shear bearing

bearing

shear
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Types of connection failures
 Steel structure
Types of connection
failures

1. Shearing Failure of
Bolts.
2. Bearing Failure of
plate.
3. Tearing failure at
edge of plate.
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Types of Connection Failure

Shearing Failure of Bolts.

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Types of Connection Failure

Shearing Failure of Bolts.

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Types of Connection Failure

Bearing Failure of plate.

Basic type of stresss

Normal and Shear
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Types of Connection Failure

Shear and Bearing Area

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Types of Connection Failure

Tearing failure at edge of plate.

Shearing Failure edge of plate Transverse Tension Failure

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Types of Connection Failure
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6. Strength of Connection
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Strength of Connection
Tension and Shear Strength of Bolts and Threaded Parts
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Strength of Connection

Tension and Shear Strength of Bolts and Threaded Parts

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Strength of Connection
Combined Tension and Shear in Bearing-Type Connections

The available tensile strength of a bolt subjected to combined tension and shear
shall be determined according to the limit states of tension and shear rupture
as:
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Strength of Connection

Combined Tension and Shear in Bearing-Type Connections

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Strength of Connection

Bearing Strength at Bolt Holes

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Strength of Connection

Bearing Strength at Bolt Holes

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Geometrical Layout for

Joints with
Slotted Holes Parallel to
Line of Loading

Geometrical Layout for

Joints with
Slotted Holes
perpendicular to Line of
Loading
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Pitch and edge distance of the bolts

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Strength of Connection

Bearing Strength at Bolt Holes

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Strength of Connection

Bearing Strength at Bolt Holes

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Strength of Connection

Bearing Strength at Bolt Holes

In order for the bolt to adequately transfer loads from one connected part to
another, the connection material must have adequate strength in bearing. The
design bearing strength for a bolt in a connection with standard, oversized, and
short-slotted holes, or long-slotted hole slots parallel to the direction of the load
is
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Strength of Connection

Bearing Strength at Bolt Holes

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Strength of Connection

Bearing Strength at Bolt Holes

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Strength of Connection

Bearing Strength at Bolt Holes

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7. Basis of AISC Equations

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Basis of AISC Equations

Combined Tension and Shear

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Basis of AISC Equations

Combined Tension and Shear

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Basis of AISC Equations

Combined Tension and Shear

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Basis of AISC Equations

Bearing strength
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Basis of AISC Equations

Bearing strength
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8. Example Problems
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Example Problems

Example 01
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Example Problems

Example 01
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Example Problems

Example 01
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Example Problems

Example 01

φFn for different bolts is given in Table 7-1 of AISC.

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Example Problems

Example 02
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Example Problems

Example 02
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Example Problems

Example 02
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Example Problems

Example 02
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Example Problems

Example 02
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Example Problems

Example 02
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Example Problems

Example 03
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Example Problems

Example 03
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Example Problems

Example 03
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Example Problems

Example 04
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Example Problems

Example 04
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Example Problems

Example 04
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Example Problems

Example 05
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Example Problems

Example 05
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Example Problems

Example 05
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Example Problems

Example 05
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Tables
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Code Requirements

Topic Ref. Text Book Ref. LRFD Code

Minimum edge Distance Table 2-8 Table J3.4

Allowable Working Stress on Table 2-9

Fasteners or Connected
Material

Allowable Load for Slip- Table 2-10 Table J3.6

Critical Connections

Allowable Stresses A502 Table 2-12

Rivets
Design Strength of Fasteners Table 2-13 Table J3.2
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Code Requirements

AISC Minimum Edge Distance

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Code Requirements

Minimum installation tension

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Code Requirements

Allowable Stresses
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Code Requirements

Properties of structural bolts

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Code Requirements

Allowable load for Slip critical connection

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Code Requirements

Design strength of fasteners

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Code Requirements

Tension members AISC Specification References