Prepared and Presented by

Akram M.
Sr. Mech.
Inspector
Megdad

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

When Steel Structure Bolting has been

designed, manufactured, installed and
inspected according to Codes and
specified Procedures, this will ensure
structural integrity.
But when any of these tasks fail to
meet the job requirements, disaster
could happen including the loss of
human lives.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints
1981 two suspended
walkways within the
atrium of the Kansas City
Hyatt Regency Hotel
collapsed, resulting in the
death of 114 people
The collapse was caused
by failure of the
connections between the
hanger rods and the maincarrying box beams of the
walkways.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints
In this presentation I will discuss
the following topics.
High
HighStrength
StrengthSteel
SteelBolts
Bolts
How
HowBolts
BoltsWork
Work
Bolt
BoltFailures
Failures
Bolt
BoltInspection
Inspection
Conclusion
Conclusion

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints
Threaded fasteners are classified by shape,
material and finish, which are specified by
industry standards. In the United States, the
American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM)
sets the standards. In Europe, the International
Standards Organization (ISO) sets the
standards.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints
Steel structural bolts are
heavy hexagon head
bolts having a controlled
thread length intended
for use in steel structural
connection assemblies
such as:

Buildings
Bridges
Pipe

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

How Bolts Work

To keep steel structure

connection joints
together, high Applied
force must be exerted
on the joints, that is If
connection joint
needed 8,000 pounds
of force to hold two
plates together, any
force applied to the
plates that is less than

Force

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

How Bolts Work

It is often helpful to think of the

bolt as a spring. It may seem
odd to think of steel structure
as being held together by a
bunch of springs, but this
analogy works to show what
happens when a bolt is
tightened.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

How Bolts Work

Mathematically
The clamping force
Fc is the difference
between the
preload force Fp
and the tension
force Ft on the
joint. The clamping
force is what holds
the parts together.Fc
Fc
This translates
mathematically to:

Fp
Fp

Ft
- Ft

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolt Pre-Load

When a bolt is tightened,

both tension and
torsional stress is
established within the
bolt. This establishes a
PRE-LOAD (clamping
force) that is developed
and applied to structural
bolt connection
assembly.
is the technical term for the
PRE-LOAD
tension caused by tightening the fastener
that holds the assembled parts together.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Strengths of Bolts

The bolt material strength is

specified by the its "grade.
For example : A grade 8 bolt is
stronger than a grade 5, which
is stronger than a grade 2. The
grade is indicated by a series
of marks on the bolts head

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Strengths of Bolts

One important consideration for steel

Strength
and is
structure a
bolt is its
determined by:

I.

The alloy (example: cold

working)

II.

Processing method (example:

heat treating)

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Strength of Bolts

Looking at the stress strain curve

Yield
Strength
is the
stress level
where
Tensile
Strength
sometimes
called
the the

material
yields
or permanently
deforms.
ultimate
strength,
is the stress
level where
the material breaks

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolted connections

Bolted joints are widely used in all

types of steel structural connections,
designed to operate under the
expected loads without exceeding
the yield stress of the material.
Bolted joints offer many advantages
over welded joints such as
maintainability. However they are
costly in that frequently additional
parts are needed (washer, nut)
compared to riveted or welded joints

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolted connections

Joints required to resist shear

between their connected parts
are designated as either
Bearing-Type Connections
Friction-Type Connections

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolted connections

Bearing Type Connection: In this

joint, the load is transferred from

the steel into the bolt by bearing
against the shank of the bolt,
carried through the bolt by shear,
then into the next layer of steel
by bearing of the bolt against the
side of the bolt hole.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints
Friction Type Connected are defined as
joints which slip would be detrimental
to the serviceability of theThey
structure.
include::
1. Joints subjected to fatigue
loading.
2. Joints with bolts installed in
3. oversized
Joints with
bolts installed in
holes.
slotted
holes.
4. Joints
subject to significant load
5.
Joints in which welds and bolts
reversal.
share in transmitting load at a
6.
Jointsfaying
in which
the engineer
common
surface.
designated on the contract plan and
specifications.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolts Installation

Bolts in connections not within the

slip-critical category nor subject to
tension loads nor required to be
fully tensioned bearing type
connections shall be installed in
properly aligned holes, but need
only be tightened to the Snug
Tight Condition.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Snug Tied Condition

The "snug tight condition" is defined as
"the tightness attained by either a few
hits of an impact wrench or the full
effort of a worker with an ordinary spud
wrench that brings the connected plies
into firm contact" by the most recent

AISC LRFD Specification (Dec. 1,

1993), Section J3.1.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolts Installation

In Slip-Critical Connections,
subject to direct tension, and fully
pre-tensioned bearing connections
fasteners, together with washers of
size and quality specified, shall be
installed in properly aligned holes
and tightened to provided at least
the minimum tension shown in table
4, section 8 (AISC ninth edition).

By one of the following

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints
Turn of the nut method
When Turn of the nut method used, a
representative sample of not less than
three bolts and nuts of each diameter,
length and grade to be used shall be
checked at the start of work in a device
capable of indicating bolt tension not less
than five percent greater than tension
required.
Following this initial operation all bolts in
the connection shall be tightened further

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolt Installation

Direct tension indicator

Tightening of bolts using direct tension indicator

is permitted provided the suitability of the device
can be demonstrated by testing bolts sample
table 5 of (AISC section 8, ninth edition)

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolt Installation

Calibrated wrench tightening

Calibration wrench tightening may be used
only when the installation procedures are
calibrated on a daily basis. When this
procedure is used, it shall be set to provide
tension not less than 5% in excess of the
minimum tension specified in table 4 of (AISC
section 8, ninth edition). It shall be verified
during actual installation in the assembled
steel work that the wrench adjustment
selected by the calibration does not produce a
nut or bolt head rotation from snug tight
greater than that permitted in table 5 of (AISC

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Inspector Responsibility

In progress work
Inspector should :
1. Determine the job
2. requirement.
Inspect the material (bolts, washers,
nutsObserve
etc.) the calibration procedure.
3.
4. Verify equipment calibration
documents.
5. Monitor bolt installation.
6. Select a procedure properly use to
tighten all bolts.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Inspector Responsibility
Arbitration Inspection:

When high strength bolts in slip-critical

connection and connection subject to
direct tension have been installed, the
following arbitration procedures may be
used.
5.
Bolts
in the structure
shall
be
10%
randomly
1. The
2.
3.
4.
Tightening
This
Theinspecting
inspector
specification
beyond
shall
wrench
does
the
use
shall
initial
not
a manual
recognize
then
condition
be
torque
applied
standard
must
wrench
tochecked,
not
the
torques
to give
but
notindication
less
than
2that
bolts
selected
at
random
in
each
tightened
an
determined
produce
bolts
greater
in
from
the
nut
tables
work
therotation
job
to
orinspecting
determine
formulas.
than
1 1/2
torque
thetimes
torque
has
that
been
connection
in the
question.
any
nut 5ordegrees
bolt
is turned
necessarily
reached.joint
permitted
to in
turn
table
5.nut
The
of If
job
bolt
inspecting
head
torque
shall be
by
the
application
of the
job
inspecting
torque, all the
(approximately
taken
as the 1average
inch
atthree
12 inch
value.
radius).
bolts in the connection shall be rejected (then all the
rejected bolts shall be tightened and reinspected).

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Inspector Responsibility

Delayed verification Inspection:

If verification of bolt tension is
required after a passage of a period of
time and exposure of the completed
joint, the arbitration inspection will
provide indication of bolt tension
which is of questionable accuracy.
Procedures appropriate to the specific
situation should be used for
verification of bolt tension (this might
involve use of the arbitration

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolt Failure

When a threaded
fastener can not
sustain the
expected loading
and becomes
detached, a
significant failure
In structural
connection may

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolt Failure

Examples of bolt failures that have been

involved in serious losses.

Metal
Metal Fatigue
Fatigue

Improper
Improper Design
Design
Failure
Failure as
as a
a result
result of
of an
an overload
overload
Failure
Failure from
from improper
improper torque
torque

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolt Failure

Metal
Metal Fatigue
Fatigue
Metal fatigue is the
phenomenon
characterized by
progressive crack growth
during cyclic loading. A
crack is often initiated at
a flaw or stress riser
(sharp notch) in a part.
repeated impact cause the
crack to increase in size

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolt Failure

Improper
Improper Design
Design
Wear on the
bolt threads is
the result of
bolt
movement due
to insufficient
clamping
force.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolt Failure

Failure
Failure as
as a
a result
result of
of an
an overload
overload
This is a view of a bolt that
fractured in the threaded area.
The 45 degree full-slant fracture
surface indicates high tensile
loads. The fine, gray appearance
of the fracture surface is
consistent with

a sudden overload instantaneous failure.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Bolt Failure

Failure
Failure from
from improper
improper torque
torque
When threaded fasteners are
utilized, the amount of tightening
or bolt torque is often important..
The appropriate torque is
required in order to prevent
relative flexing of the two parts
being fastened and to assure an
acceptable mechanical
connection.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints
CONCLUSION

( SAEP 1150)
Inspection department responsibility on capital
projects is to provide the Company with an
independent Quality Assurance assessment function
that assures compliance with the Companys
Engineering requirements, and provide specialized
inspection and Non Destructive Testing Services that
assures optimum economic quality is maintained
throughout the life cycle of the Companys facilities to
minimize losses due to unscheduled events and to
maximize Company profitability.

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints
CONCLUSION

And this task can be a

accomplish by

Knowledge
&

Team Work
Determination

Structural
Structural Steel
Steel Bolted
Bolted Joints
Joints

Prepared and Presented

Akram M. Megdad

BAPIU