Bolted Connections

Chapter J
And
Specification For Structural Joints Using High-
Strength Bolts (part 16.2)

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

Bolted Connections in Steel Frame Buildings

1
 Bolted Connections in Steel Frame Buildings

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

Introduction
• For years riveting was the accepted method.
• These days just bolting or welding
– Bolting is a very rapid field erection process
– Bolting required less skilled labor
» Bolted is much cheaper than rivet (in US)

• Types of Bolts
– Unfinished bolts or Ordinary or common bolts:
» A307 bolts (made from carbon steel)(similar to A36)
» Available ½ to 1 ½ in in 1/8 increments
» Square heads and nuts (reduce costs)
» Used in lightest structure: purlins, bracing, platforms, small trusses
– High-strength bolts:
» Have at tensile strength two or more times of ordinary bolts
» A325 bolts (heat-treated medium carbon steel)
» A490 bolts (heat-treated alloy steel)
» Using in all structures (small, skyscrapers, bridges)
– Other bolts:
» A449 and A354 (larger diameters and lengths)

2
 General Characteristic of A325 and A490 Bolts

Advantage of High-Strength Bolts

• Smaller crews compare with riveting
– Quicker steel erection
• Fewer bolts are needed to provide the same strength compare with rivets
• Less skilled people and less training and experience needed (than others)
• Less loud than riveting
• Cheaper equipment is used
• Higher fatigue strength
• Simpler change and repair

Snug-Tight, Pretensioned, and Slip-Critical Bolts

• Snug-Tight: For most connection, bolts are tightened only by full effort of a person using spud
wrench or after a few impacts of the pneumatic wrench
– One worker
– Quick installation
– Just visual inspection
• Pretensioned and Slip-Critical Bolts: The bolts in a pretensioned joint and slip-critical bolts are
brought to very high tensile stress equal to approximately 70% of their minimum stress (the only
difference between the two is in the treatment of the contact or faying surfaces)

3
 Size of Bolt Holes
• In addition to the standard size bolt holes(STD), which are 1/16 in
larger in diameter than the bolts, there are three types of enlarged
holes: Table J3.3 page 16.1-120
– Oversized
– Short-slotted
– Long-slotted
• In general they are very useful in speeding up steel erection and
easier to do adjustment

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

Size of Bolt Holes

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

4
 Butt joint

Lap joint

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

Failure of Bolted Joints

• Bolt Shear Failure:
• Failure by single shearing of bolt in a lap joint
• Double shear failure of a butt joint

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

5
 Failure of Bolted Joints
• Plate/Edge Shear or tearout:
• Shear failure/ tearout of plate behind bolt

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

Failure of Bolted Joints

• Crushing failure/ bearing of plate (or bolt):

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

6
 Failure of Bolted Joints
• Tension failure/fracture of plate (or bolt):

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

Experiment FE Plate Front FE Plate Rear

11/27/2013
CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures 14

7
 CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures 15

Some terms:
• Pitch is the center-to-center distance of bolts in a direction parallel to the axis of the member
• Gage is the centre-to-center distance of bolt lines perpendicular to the axis of the member
• The edge distance is the distance from the center of a bolt to the adjacent edge of a member
• The distance between bolts is the shortest distance between fasteners on the same or
different gage lines

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

8
 Minimum Spacing
• Bolts should be placed a sufficient distance apart to permit efficient installation and to
prevent bearing failures of the members between fasteners.

• The AISC (J3.3) provides a minimum center-to-center distance.

• This distance should not be less than 2 2/3 times the nominal diameter, d.
• A distance of 3d is preferred.

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

Minimum Edge Distance`

• Bolts should not be placed too near the edges of a member for avoiding the
fastener tearing through the metal.
– Table J3.4 states the distance from the center of a standard hole to the edge of a
connected part.

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

9
 Bearing-Type Connection
Loads Passing Through Center of Gravity of Connection
• In bearing-type connections, it is assumed that the loads to be transferred are larger
than the frictional resistance caused by tightening the bolts, with the result that the
member slip a little on each other, putting the bolts in shear and bearing.

• The design shear strength:

ΦRn= ΦFnAb (Φ = 0.75)
– Fn: nominal shear stress
(or nominal tensile stress), Ksi
(Table J3.2-p16.1-120)
(AISC Eq: J3-1)

– Ab: nominal unthreaded body

area of bolts or threaded part,in2

Normal bolt and member sizes

are used, the threads will almost
always be excluded from the
shear plane.
CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

• The bearing strength at bolt holes:

– When deformation at the bolt hole at service load is a design consideration

ΦRn= Φ (1.2 lc t Fu ≤ 2.4 d t Fu) (No. of bolts) (Φ = 0.75) AISC Eq J3-6c

Excessive hole elongation Hole tear out (towards free edge or an adjacent hole)

– Fu = Specified minimum tensile strength of the connected material, ksi

– d = Nominal bolt diameter, in
– lc = Clear distance, in the direction of force, between the edge of hole and the edge of
adjacent hole or the edge of the material, in
– t = Thickness of connected material, in

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

10
• Example 1 :
• Determine the design strength for the bearing-type connection shown below (Fy=36
and Fu=58 ksi ), the bolts are 7/8-in A325 (Fu=58 ksi), the holes are standard sizes,
and the threads are excluded from the shear plane. Assume that the deformation as
bolt holes are a design consideration.
– Gross section yielding of plates
ΦPn = ΦFy Ag =(0.9) (36 ksi)(1/2 in x12 in)
= 194.4 k

– Tensile rupture strength:

An= 6 in2 – (2) ( 7/8 in +1/8 in)(1/2 in)
= 5.00 in2
U=1.0 as all parts connected
Ae = U An = 1 (5 in2) =5 in2
ΦPn = ΦFu Ae =(0.75) (58ksi)(5.00 in2) = 217.5 k

– Bearing strength of bolts:

lc = lesser of 3-1/2 or 3-1= 2.00 in
ΦRn= Φ (1.2 lc t Fu (No. of bolts) ≤ 2.4 d t Fu (No. of bolts)
= 0.75(1.2x2x1/2x58x4 = 278.4 k > 2.4x7/8x1/2x58x4 =243.6 k ) = 182.7 k
– Shearing strength of bolts
ΦRn= ΦFnAb = (0.75)(68 ksi)(0.6)(4) = 122.4 k Controls

• Example 2 :
• How many ¾- in A325 bolts in standard-size holes with threads excluded from the shear plane
are required for the bearing-type connection shown below? Use Fu=58 ksi and assume edge
distance to be 2 in and the distance center-to-center of holes to be 3 in. Assume that
deformation at bolt holes is a design consideration. Pu= 345 k
– Bolts in double shear and
bearing on ¾ in
lc = lesser of 2-1/2(3/4+1/8)=1.56in
or 3-2x1/2(3/4 +1/8) = 2.125in

– Bearing strength of 1 bolt:

ΦRn= Φ (1.2 lc t Fu (No. of bolts) ≤ 2.4 d t Fu (No. of bolts)
= 0.75(1.2x1.56x3/4x58= 81.4 k > 2.4x3/4x3/4x58=78.3 k) = 58.725 k
– Shearing strength of 1 bolt:
ΦRn= ΦFnAb = (0.75)(68 ksi)(0.44)(2) = 44.8 k Controls

No. of bolts reqd. = Pu / ΦRn = 345/ 44.8 = 7.70

Use eight ¾ - in A325 bolts

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

11
 Cover plates bolted to the flange of W shape
• In this case, the bolts must carry the longitudinal shear on the plane between the
plates and the flanges.

• The unit longitudinal shearing stress to be resisted between a cover plate and the W
flange can be determined with the expression:
– Fv= VQ / Ib.
– The total shear force across the flange for a 1-in length of the beam equals :
(b)(1.0) (VQ / Ib) = VQ / I

• Maximum permissible spacing for bolts used in the outside plates of built-up member:
– It equals the thinner outside plate thickness
times 0.75 √E/Fy and may not be larger than 12 in
AISC (E6.2).

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

• Example 3 :
• At a certain section in the cover-plated beam of figure bellow the external factored shears are
Vu =275 k. Determine the spacing required for 7/8-in A325 bolts used in a bearing-type
connection. Assume that the bolt threads are excluded from the shear plane, the edge distance
is 3.5 in, Fy = 50 ksi, and Fu= 65 ksi. Deformation at bolt holes is a design consideration.
– Computing shearing force to be taken
• Ig= 3630 +2 (3/4 x16) (22.1/2 + 0.75/2)2 = 6760 in 4
• Factored shear per in= VQ / I = 275( ¾ x16 x 11.425) / 6760 = 5.578 k/in
– Bolts in single shear and bearing on 0.75 in
– Bearing strength of 2 bolts:
• lc =3.5-1/2(7/8+1/8)= 3 in
• ΦRn= Φ (1.2 lc t Fu (No. of bolts)
≤ 2.4 d t Fu (No. of bolts)
= 0.75(1.2x3x3/4x65x2= 351 k >
2.4x7/8x3/4x65X2=204.8 k)=153.65 k
– Shearing strength of 2 bolts
ΦRn= ΦFnAb = (0.75)(68 ksi)(0.6)(2)=61.2k controls

• Spacing of bolts = 61.2/5.578 = 10.97 in

• Max spacing by AISC (E6.2) =(t) (0.75 √E/Fy )=(¾)(0.75) (√29e3/50)= 13.55 in < 12in
• Now that we have the calculated spacing of the pairs of bolts, we can see that lc in the direction of the force is
> to the edge of the member ⇒there will be no change in the nominal bearing strength of the bolts
• USE 7/8 – in A325 bolt 10 in on center

12
• Example 4 :
• Determine the LRFD design tensile strength for the member shown, assuming a bearing-type
connection. A325 1 -in bolts threads excluded from shear plane.
– Gross section yielding of plates
ΦPn = ΦFy Ag =(0.9) (36 ksi)(1in x16 in)
= 518.4 k

– Tensile rupture strength:

An= 16 in2 – (3) (1 in +1/8 in)(1 in)
= 12.625 in2
U=1.0 as all parts connected
Ae = U An = 1 (12.625 in2) =12.625 in2
ΦPn = ΦFu Ae =(0.75) (58ksi)(12.625 in2)= 549.2k

– Bearing strength of bolts:

lc = lesser of 2-1/2(1.125) or 3-1.125= 1.4375in
ΦRn= Φ (1.2 lc t Fu (No. of bolts) ≤ 2.4 d t Fu (No. of bolts)
= 0.75(1.2x1.4375x1x58x9= 900.45 k > 2.4x1x1x58x9 = 1252.8 k ) = 675.33k
– Shearing strength of bolts
ΦRn= ΦFnAb = (0.75)(68 ksi)(0.785)(9) = 360.3 k Controls

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

• Example 5 :
• The truss member shown consists
of two C12x25 (A36) connected to
a 1” gusset plate. How many7/8-in
A325 bolts are required to develop
the full design tensile capacity of the
member if it is used as a bearing-type connection? U= 0.85. Ignore plate.
• C12x25(A= 7.34, tw= 0.387)
– Gross section yielding of channels:
ΦPn = ΦFy Ag =(0.9) (36 ksi)(2 x7.34 in2)= 475.6 k
– Tensile rupture strength of channels:
An= (2 x7.34 in2)– (2) (2) (7/8 in +1/8 in)(0.387 in) = 13.13 in2
U= 0.85
Ae = U An = 0.85 (13.13 in2) =11.16 in2
ΦPn = ΦFu Ae =(0.75) (58ksi)(11.1605 in2)= 485.5k
– Bearing strength of one bolt:
lc = 2-(1/2)(7/8+1/8)= 1.5 in
ΦRn= Φ (1.2 lc t Fu (No. of bolts) ≤ 2.4 d t Fu (No. of bolts)
= 0.75(1.2x1.5x(2x0.387)x58= 80.8 k > 2.4x7/8x(2x0.387)x58=94.3 k ) = 60.6 k Control
– Double shearing strength of one bolt:
ΦRn= ΦFnAb = (0.75)(68 ksi)(2x0.6)= 61.2 k
→ No of bolts: 475.6/60.6= 7.85 → use 8 bolts

13
 Slip-Critical Connection
Loads Passing Through Center of Gravity of Connection
• Almost all bolted connections with standard size holes are designed as
bearing-type connections
– The design shear strength
• Bolt shear strength
– The bearing strength at bolt holes
• The strength of the parts being connected
• The arrangement of the bolts

• On some occasions (BRIDGES) slipping should be prevented

– Either at the service load limit state
– Or at the strength limit state
• Slip-critical connections should be used only when slipping will adversely
affect the serviceability of the structure.
– Slipping may cause:
» Excessive distortion of the structures
» Reduction in strength
» Reduction in stability
– Even if the strength of the connection is adequate Should we check bearing?

• Nominal slip resistance of a connection:

ΦRn= Φ (µ Du hf Tb ns) AISC Eq J3-4

– µ = mean slip coefficient

» 0.3 for class A faying surface (uncoated clean mill scale steel surface)
» 0.5 for class B faying surface (uncoated blast-clean steel surface)

– Du = 1.13. This is a multiplier that gives the ratio of the mean installed pretension
to the specified minimum pretension
– Tb =minimum fastener tension given in Table J3.1, kips

– hf = factor for fillers:

» Where there are no fillers or where bolts have been added to distribute load in the filler
hf = 1
» Where bolts have not been added to distribute the load in the filler:
For one filler between connected parts: hf = 1
For two or more fillers between connected parts: hf = o.85

– ns = number of slip planes required to permit the connection to slip

– Φ = 1 (For standard sizes)

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

14
• Slip-critical connections, in general, are considerably more
expensive than bearing type connections due to:

– Larger number of bolts; larger connection

– Higher labor cost associated with surface preparation bolt installation

• Bolt must be fully tightened to achieved T assumed in design

– Higher inspection cost

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

Minimum Bolt Pretension, Kips

Tb:

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

15
• Example 6 :
• For the lap joint , the axial service loads are PD=27.5 k and PL=40 k. Determine the number of
1-in-A325 slip-critical bolts in standard-size holes needed for the limit state of slip if the faying
surface is class A. The edge distance is 1.75 in, and the c.to.c spacing of the bolts is 3 in. Fy=
50 ksi. Fu= 65 ksi.

– Loads to be resisted
• Pu= (1.2)(27.5) + (1.6)(40) = 97 k

– Slip-critical design to prevent slip

• ΦRn= Φ (µ Du hf Tb ns)
» µ = 0.3 for class A surface
» Du = 1.13 multiplier
» Tb = 51 k minimum bolt pretension for bolt size 1 inch (Table J3.1 page16.1-119)
» hf =1 factor for filler
» ns = 1.0 = number of slip planes
» Φ = standard size = 1

– ΦRn= Φ (µ Du hf Tb ns) = 1(0.3x1.13x1x51x1) = 17.29 k/bolt

– No. of bolts reqd: 97/17.29= 5.61: use 6 bolts

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

– Bearing strength of bolts:

lc = lesser of 3- (1+1/8)= 1.875 in or 1.75 -1/2(1+1/8) = 1.187 in
ΦRn= Φ (1.2 lc t Fu (No. of bolts) ≤ 2.4 d t Fu (No. of bolts)
= 0.75(1.2x1.187x5/8x65x6 = 434 k<2.4x1x5/8x65x6 =585 k)= 326 k > 97 k OK
– Shearing strength of bolts
ΦRn= ΦFnAb = (0.75)(68 ksi)(0.785)(6) = 240.2 k > 97 k ok

• It seems the bearing strength check for slip-critical connections are a waste of time.
– The connections are not going to slip and put the bolts in bearing
– Exception : very thin plate

CEE 451 Design of Metal Structures

16
• Example 7 :
• How many bolts are required for
the a)bearing-type b)slip-critical
connection if PD=120K and PL=150k?
A490 3/4 in bolts.
 Factored load: Pu= 1.2(120)+ 1.6(150) = 384 k
• A) Bearing-type connection
– Bearing strength of bolts:
lc = lesser of 2-(1/2)(3/4+1/8) or 4-(3/4+1/8)= 1.5625 in
ΦRn= Φ (1.2 lc t Fu (No. of bolts) ≤ 2.4 d t Fu (No. of bolts) (Threads are not excluded from SP)
= 0.75(1.2x1.5625x3/4x58= 81.56 k > 2.4x3/4x3/4x58=78.3k ) = 58.72 k
– Double shearing strength of bolts
ΦRn= ΦFnAb = (0.75)(68 ksi)(2x0.44)= 44.85 k→ No of bolts: 384/44.85= 8.57 → use 9
• B) Slip-critical connection
» µ = 0.3 for class A surface
» Du = 1.13 multiplier
» Tb = 35 k minimum bolt pretension for bolt size 3/4 inch (Table J3.1 page16.1-119)
» hf =1 factor for filler
» ns = 2.0 = number of slip planes
» Φ = standard size = 1

– ΦRn= Φ (µ Du hf Tb ns) = 1(0.3x1.13x1x35x2) = 23.73 k/bolt

– No. of bolts reqd: 384/23.73= 16.18: use 17 bolts

• Example 8 :
• Determine the design tensile strength Pu of the connection shown if eight 7/8 in A325 bearing –
type bolts are used in each flange. Include block shear.A36 steel.

• W21x101 (A= 29.8in2, tf= 0.8in, bf=12.3in,d=21.4in)

• Tensile yielding of connection elements:
 ΦPn = ΦFy Ag =(0.9) (36 ksi)(2)(3/4in x14 in)
= 680.4 k
• Tensile rupture of connecting elements:
 An= (2)[ (3/4x14)– (2)(7/8 in +1/8 in)(3/4) ]=18in2
U= 1
Ae = U An =1(18 in2) =18 in2
ΦPn = ΦFu Ae =(0.75) (58ksi)(18 in2)= 776.5k
• Tensile yielding of W section:
 ΦPn = ΦFy Ag =(0.9) (36 ksi)(29.8in2) = 965.5 k
• Tensile rupture strength of W section:
 An= 29.8-(4)(7/8 in +1/8 in)(0.8) ]=26.6 in2
Xbar=Ybar= 2.18 in for WT10.5x50.5 → U= 1 –Xbar/L → 1-2.18/(3x3)= 0.76
bf=12.3 < 2/3 d = 2/3 x21.4 =14.27 → u =0.85 (case 7 AISC Table D3.1)
Ae = U An =0.85(26.6 in2) =22.61 in2
ΦPn = ΦFu Ae =(0.75) (58ksi)(22.61 in2)= 983.5k

17
• Bearing strength of 16 bolts:
lc = 1.5-(1/2)(7/8+1/8)= 1.00in
ΦRn= Φ (1.2 lc t Fu (No. of bolts) ≤ 2.4 d t Fu (No. of bolts)
= 0.75(1.2x1x3/4x58x16= 835.2 k > 2.4x7/8x3/4x58x16 =1461.6 k ) = 626.4 k
• Shearing strength of bolts:
ΦRn= ΦFnAb = (0.75)(68 ksi)(0.6)(16)= 489.6 k
• Block shear strength consideration both flanges: 1 1/2 3 3 3

Agv= (4) (10.5)(0.8)= 33.6 in2

Anv= (4) [10.5-(3.5)(7/8+11/8)](0.8)= 22.4 in2 3.4
Ant= (4) [3.4-(1/2)(7/8+11/8)](0.8)= 9.28in2 5.5
Ubs= 1.0
3.4
Rn= 0.6 Fu Anv + Ubs Fu Ant ≤ 0.6 Fy Agv + Ubs Fu Ant
Rn= 0.6(58)(22.4)+(1)(58)(9.28) = 1417.8 > (0.6)(36) (33.6)+(1)(58)(9.28) =1264 k
ΦRn= (0.75)(1264)= 984 k
• Block shear strength consideration in plate:

18