METHODS OF STEEL

CONNECTION

- Ar. Sweta Doriwala

The various members of steel frame structure are to be suitably

connected for the transfer of load.

Following are the methods adopted for connecting the members of steel
work.
1.
2.
3.

Bolts
Rivets
Welding

Bolts

Bolted joints are one of the most common elements in construction and
machine design. They consist of fasteners that capture and join other parts.
A bolt may be defined as a metal pin with a head at one end and a shank
threaded at the other end to receive a nut. Steel washers are also provided
under the bolt as well as under the nut.
The holes are made in the
members to be connected and
the diameter of the holes is
kept about 0.50mm larger than
that of external diameter of
the bolt.
It may be also adopted when it
is difficult to use rivets as
connecting medium.

Advantages of bolted connection

Economy, speed and ease of erection

Reliability of service
Ease of inspection
Fewer, and less highly skilled operators required
No pre-heating of high strength steels
No weld cracking or induced internal stresses

Types

There are several types of bolts used to connect the structural elements. Some of
the bolts commonly used are:
1.
Unfinished bolts
2.
Turned bolts
3.
Ribbed bolts
4.
High strength bolts

1. Unfinished bolts (Black bolt)

Unfinished bolts are also called ordinary, common, rough or black bolts.

There are used for light structures (purlins, bracings, etc.) under static loads. They
are not recommended for connections subjected to impact load, vibrations and
fatigue.

Bolts are forged from low carbon rolled steel circular rods, permitting large
tolerances. Ordinary structural bolts are made from mild steel with square or
hexagonal head.

The bolt hole is punched about 1.6mm more than the bolt diameter.

The nuts on bolts are tightened with spud wrenches, producing little tension.
Therefore, no clamping force is induced on the sections jointed. Sometimes a hole
is drilled in the bolt and a cotter pin with a castellated nut is used to prevent the
nut from turning on the bolt.

2. Turned bolts
These bolts are fitted to holes the same diameter as their shank and the bolt is
driven home by hammering and then secured with a nut.

The surfaces of the bolts are prepared carefully and are machined to fit in the
hole. Tolerances allowed are very small.

These bolts have high shear and bearing resistance as compared to unfinished
bolts.

They are used where more accuracy in fitting is required and are usually made of
higher grade steel.

3. Ribbed bolts
These are also called fluted bolts. The head of the bolt is like a rivet head.
The threaded and nut are provided on the other end of the shank. From the shank
core longitudinal ribs project making the diameter of the shank more than the
diameter of the hole. These ribs cut grooves into the connected members while
tightening and ensure a tight fit.
These bolts have more resistance to vibrations as compared to ordinary bolts. The
permissible stresses for ribbed are same as that for rivets.

4. High Strength friction grip bolt

These bolts are called friction grip bolts. These are made from high strength
steel which enable them to suffer greater stress due to tightening than ordinary
bolts.

The combined effect of the greater strength of the bolt itself and the increased
friction due to firm clamping together of the plate being joined makes this bolts
capable of taking the greater loads than ordinary bolts.

High strength bolts have replaced rivets and are being used in structures, such as
high rise buildings, bridges, machines etc.

Failure of bolted connections

Shearing of bolts

Bearing failure of plate

Bearing failure of bolt

Rivet
The rivet is other method to connect steel members. These are made from
the round rods of mild steel and consist of a hemispherical bottom shaped
head with a cylindrical shank.

The holes are drilled in the members to be connected and the rivet which is
rendered soft by heating, is inserted in the hole. The shank extends out of the
prepared rivet hole and the extended part is given shape of second head by
riveting machine.

The usual form of rivet had which is cup shaped in appearance is termed as
snap head.

And to have the second head flush with the plate or member, countersunk
head is eliminated.

The diameter of the hole should be

kept about 2mm larger than that of
shank.

The distance between consecutive

rivets is termed as pitch.

There are 2 types of rivet:

1. Lap joint
2. Butt joint

1. Lap joint in rivet

The two members to be connected are overlapped and connected together. Such a
joint is called a lap joint as in below Figure.
A single riveted lap joint and a double riveted lap joint are shown in Figs (b,c)
respectively. The load in the lap joint has eccentricity, as the centre of gravity of
load in one member and the centre of gravity of load in the second member are
not in the same line, as shown in Fig. 2.2(d).
Therefore, a couple is formed which causes undesirable bending in the connection
and the rivets may fail in tension. To minimize the effect of bending in lap joints
at least two rivets in a line should be provided. Also, due to the eccentricity the
stresses are distributed un-evenly across the contact area between rivets and the
members to be connected. This puts a limitation on the use of lap joints.

2. Butt joint in rivet

The two members to be connected are placed end to end. Additional plate/plates
provided on either one or both sides, called cover plates and are connected to the
main plates. as in Figs 2.2(e,h).
If the cover plate is provided on one side as in Figs 2.2(f), (g), it is called a single
cover butt joint but if the cover plates are provided on both the sides of main
plates it is called a double cover butt joint as shown in Fig. 2.2.(i),(j).


1.

2.

It is more desirable to provide a butt joint than a lap joint for two main reasons:
In the case of double cover butt joint the total shear force to be transmitted by the
members is split into two parts and the force acts on each half as shown in Fig.
2.2(k). But in the case of lap joint (Fig. 2.2(I), there is only one plane on which
the force acts and therefore the shear carrying capacity of a rivet in a butt joint is
double that of a rivet in a lap joint.
In the case of a double cover butt joint, eccentricity of force does not exist and
hence bending is eliminated, whereas it exists in the case of a lap joint.

Welding

The process of welding has become more popular for providing an effective
method of connecting members of steel-framed structure. And it has now
practically replaced rivets.
It joins two or more structural members by introducing fused metal into
fillets between them or by raising the temperature and then applying
pressure.
With the development of welding it has become possible to render
architectural beauty to steel structures also. Any structural member of
desired pattern can thus be joined flush to a smooth surface.
There are 2 different methods of welding commonly adopted:
Electric arc welding: in this, a spark is produced between the welding rod
and the surface to be weld.
Oxy-acetylene welding: In this, a flame of high temperature is produced
by burning a mixture of acetylene and oxygen.

Advantages of welding

Rapid execution of work

Noise produced during process of riveting is eliminated in welding.
It is economical when used on a large scale.
It is possible to give some architectural effect to the steel structure
The angle cleats necessary in riveted connections are not required, thus
saving in material.
Any structural member of desired pattern can thus be joined flush to a
smooth surface.
There is no reduction in the sectional areas due to holes for rivet and hence,
when welding is adopted, the entire section is considered effective for taking
up the tensile stresses.

Types

There are two types of welds

1. Butt weld
2. Fillet weld

1. Butt weld
These welds are used to join plates at their edges and the weld metal fills the gap
between them. The section of the butt weld employed depends on the thickness of
the plates to be joined.
The edges of the plates to be joined are cleaned and shaped as necessary, the plates
are fixed in position and the weld metal run in from the filler rod.
Thin plates upto 5mm thick, requires no shaping of edges and weld is formed.
Plates upto 12mm thick, have their edges shaped to form a single V butt weld. The
purpose is to allow the filler rod to be manipulated inside the V to deposit weld
metal throughout the depth of weld without difficulty.
Plates upto 24 mm thick, are joined together either with a double V weld or single
U as shown in figure.
Plates over 24 mm thick, are joined with a double U weld.
For dis similar plates, single J butt weld is used.

2. Fillet weld
In this type, the edge of one plate is brought against the surface of another (not in
the same place) and welding metal is fused in the corner between the two plates.
Thus the joint can be welded on one or both the sides.
Fillet welded joints such as tee, lap and corner joints are the most common
connection in welded fabrication
Different shapes of fillet weld

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