Design and Analysis of Connections

Bolts

Design and Analysis of Connections

In any structure, the individual components are only as strong as the
connections
Consequently, Structural Engineer will often specify that that some
connections (such as shear connections in beams) be designed for the full
capacity of the connected member to avoid creating a weak link at the
connection
Simple Connections
In practice, Engineers delegate the design of the simple connections to the
steel fabricator
Fabricator selects the most economical method for fabricating and erecting
the structural steel
SS Engineer will review and approve these simple connections and provide
details for the more complicated connections, such as braced frames or
moment connections

Design and Analysis of Connections

Detailed Connections
In other cases, engineers may delegate all of the connection designs to the
steel fabricator.
SS Engineer will provide drawings showing the member forces and reactions
so that the fabricators engineer can provide an adequate connection for the
applied loads
In practice, the delegation of connection design to the fabricator is more
prevalent in the Eastern United States.
In any case, SS Engineer of record still has to review the connection designs
to ensure that they conform to the design intent.

Design and Analysis of Connections

The most common and most economical connections used are bolted
connections
Riveted connections were used prior to the advent of bolted and welded
connections in the 1950s
The use of riveted connections in structural steel has essentially become
obsolete
Rivets required more skilled laborers for installation, as well as more
inspection
They were also somewhat more dangerous in that the rivets would have to
be heated and installed at a very high temperature (about 1000F)
While high-strength bolts have a greater material cost, they are installed with
a greater degree of safety and with less labor

Design and Analysis of Connections

Parts of Bolts

Design and Analysis of Connections

Bolt Hole Types

Introduction
Today, bolting has practically superseded riveting
Bolting is fast and does not require as much skilled labor as riveting
or welding

Introduction
High-Strength Bolts
Two types of high-strength bolts are commonly used for bolted
connections in steel structures
A325
A490
These bolts have hexagon heads and use hexagon nuts.
Common sizes for these bolts are in the range to 1 in
In steel buildings, the most common sizes appear to be in. and 7/8
in.

Introduction
Unfinished/ Common/ Rough/ Carbon steel bolts
These bolts achieve their total strength from shear (or tension)
strength across the diameter of the bolt
They are relatively low-strength and are used primarily for low-load
applications such as for anchor rods
The typical carbon steel bolt used in structural steel buildings is
ASTM A307
ASTM F1554
The allowable tensile and shear stresses for A307 bolts are given in
Table 8.2 (ASD Table J3.2)
They are cheaper than high-strength bolts and can be used for static
loading only
They are usually used in light structures and secondary or bracing
members

Introduction
Unfinished/ Common/ Rough/ Carbon steel bolts
They usually have square heads and nuts to reduce the cost
A connection made of unfinished bolts may not necessarily be less
expensive than an equivalent connection made of high-strength
bolts, because the required number of bolts is usually larger for
unfinished bolts
These bolts are used in sizes varying from to 4 in

Introduction
Allowable Stresses in Bolts

Note:
letter N in the high-strength bolt designation indicates that threads are
included in the shear plane, while the letter X indicates that threads
are excluded from the shear plane.

Introduction
Possible Bolted Shear Failure Mechanisms
Bolt Shear
This is probably the most obvious failure mode
It occurs when the applied load exceeds the shear capacity through
the bolt
Possible remedies include using a larger diameter bolt, higher grade
of bolt or more bolts

Introduction
Possible Bolted Shear Failure Mechanisms
Edge Tear-Out
This occurs when the bolt is located too close to the edge of the
plate in the direction of load
A minimum required edge distance, Le, is dictated in AISC Table J3.4
Possible remedies include increasing the edge distance or reducing
the bolt diameter

Introduction
Possible Bolted Shear Failure Mechanisms
Bearing Failure
This type of failure occurs when one of the plates is too thin or not
strong enough for the applied loads
The design bearing strength at bolt holes is dictated in AISCM
Possible remedies increasing the plate thickness, use a higher grade
of steel or using larger diameter bolts

Introduction
Possible Bolted Shear Failure Mechanisms
Net Section Failure
It occurs when there are too many bolt holes perpendicular to the
line of action resulting in too little material to carry the load
Think of Swiss cheese
The minimum spacing of bolts is dictated in AISC J3.2 as not less
than 2 times the nominal bolt diameter, preferably 3 times the bolt
diameter
Usually 3 is used as the nominal bolt spacing for bolts < 1 in
diameter

BOLT INSTALLATION
Three basic joint types:
Snug tight/ bearing type
Pretensioned
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, SS Engineer must indicate the joint type and the faying
surface that are to be used for any given connection

Introduction
Types of Bolted Connections
Snug tight/ Bearing-Type Connections
Most common type of bolted connection
It is used in most simple-shear connections and in situations when
loosening or fatigue due to vibration or load fluctuations are NOT
design considerations
In these connections, bolts are tightened to the snug-tight
condition, as defined as the tightness attained by a few impacts of an
impact wrench or the full effort of an iron worker using an ordinary
spud wrench
The design strength of bearing-type fasteners is per AISC Eq. J3-1

Introduction
Types of Bolted Connections
Slip-Critical/ Friction Type Connections
It is one in which loosening due to vibration or load
reversals are to be considered
Also, holes that are oversize or slotted shall be
designed as slip-critical connections
Bolts that are used in slip-critical connections must
be pre-tensioned per AISC Table J3.1
In addition, the design strength of the connection
must be checked in accordance with AISC J3.8, J3.9
and J3.10

Introduction
Pre-tensioned Connection
A pretensioned joint has a greater amount of clamping force than the
snug-tight condition and therefore provides a greater degree of slipresistance in the joint
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
Connections supporting impact or cyclical loads such as cranes or
machinery

Introduction
It is important to note that the design strength of a pretensioned
joint is equal to that of a snugtightened joint
For both snugtight and pretensioned bolts, the faying surface is
permitted to be uncoated, painted, or galvanized, but must be free of
dirt and other foreign material
When pretensioned bolts are installed, they must be tightened such
that a minimum clamping force is achieved between the connected
parts.

Introduction
Design Strength of Bearing-Type Fasteners
Design tension or shear strength of a high-strength bolt or threaded
part is

Introduction
Design Strength of Bearing-Type Fasteners
Design tension or shear strength of a high-strength bolt or threaded
part is

Introduction
Bolts Subjected to Combined Shear and Tension

Introduction
Bolts Subjected to Combined Shear and Tension
Reduction Factor

Bolted Connection
Analysis of Bolted connection

Example No 1
Data
Two plates of x 12 are required to be connected
using 4 x in dia A325 bolts.
Plates are A36 steel
Use AISC Specifications
Exclude threads from shear plane
Requirement is to find the number of bolts and capacity of
plates.

Example No 1
Figure

P kips

P kips
7/8

x 12
12

Example No 1
Capacity of plate
In tension element as per yielding criteria
T
= 0.6 Fy Ag

= 0.6 x 36 x 12 x = 129.6 kips

In tension element as per fracture criteria
T
= 0.5 Fu Ae
Ae
= An x Ct
An
= Ag Abolts

= (12 x ) ( 2 x (7/8 + 1/8) x )

= 5 in2
Ct
= 1
P
= 0.5 x 58 x 5
= 145 kips
So the critical load is 129.6 kips.

Example No 1
Friction Type Connection
Shear Capacity of bolts
= No of bolts x Area of bolts x fv x no of shear surface

=
4 x (7/8)2 x /4 x 17 x 1 = 40.89 kips
Bearing Type Connection
shear capacity of bolts

= no of bolts x area of bolt x no of shear sfc x Fv

So
=
4 x (7/8)2 x /4 x 1 x 30 = 72.158 kips
Bearing capacity of bolts

= no of rivets x dia of bolt x thickness of plate x Fp

But Fp =
1.5 x Fu
So
=
4 x 7/8 x x 1.5 x 58 = 152.25 kips
Use Lesser value.

Example No 2
Data
Three plates in thick and one plate 3/4 in thick are
required to be connected using 3/4 in dia A325 bolts.
Threads are excluded from shear plane
Plates are A36
Use AISC Specifications
Bearing type connection
Requirement is to find the number of bolts

Example No 2
Figure
3/4 in dia A 325 bolts
in Plate
95 kips
95 kips

190 kips
in Plate

3/4 in Plate

Example No 2
Connection
Shear Capacity of single bolt
= No of bolt x Area of bolts x fv x no of shear surface
Assume or calculate for one bolt

=
1 x (3/4)2 x /4 x 30 x 2 = 26.507 kips
Bearing capacity of one bolt

= no of bolt x dia of bolt x thickness of plate x Fp

But Fp =
1.5 x Fu
So
=
1 x 3/4 x 3/4 x 1.5 x 58 = 48.937 kips
But Lesser of the two i.e. 26.507 kips governs.
No of bolts = 190 / 26.507 = 7.168 Use 8 Bolts

Bolts Subjected to Combined

Shear and Tension

52 kips

Example No 1

116 k
2 L s 4 x 3 x 7/16
104 k

8 x 7/8
bolts
Slope 1 is 2
A325 Bolts
Requirement: check adequacy of connection

Example No 1
The bolts used for most structural steel connections are
subjected to a combination of shear and tension. This is
common in brackets and various types of moment
resisting connections, where the upper bolts are subjected
to vertical shear plus tension caused by the fact that the
beam end is trying to rotate downward and tends to pull
top portion of the connection away from the column or
other member.
Tensile stress for bearing type connection may not exceed
Ft
=
50,000 1.6 fv 40,000
where fv is shearing stress produced by applied loads
and this formula is for A325 bolts.
Tensile stress for friction type connection may not exceed
Ab cross-sectional area of bolt and ft is tensile stress due
to applied load and Tb is proof load of bolt (Table J3.7 Page 5-77)

Example No 1
Bearing Type Connection
Shearing stress

= 10.8 ksi < 22 ksi

Tension stress
Allowable Ft = 50 1.6 x fv

= 50 1.6 x 10.8 = 32.7 ksi < 40 ksi

Actual ft

= 21.7 ksi < 32.7 ksi

So connection is safe but overdesigned.

Example No 1
Friction Type Connection

Ab cross-sectional area of bolt and ft is tensile stress

due to applied load and Tb is proof load of bolt
So actual ft = 21.7 ksi
And from above formula
Allowable Fv is

Fv allowable = 9.99 ksi

Actual

10.8 ksi > 9.99 ksi

So connection is not safe.

Example No 2
150 kips
3 in
2

10 x 1 bolts
4@4

2 Stiffeners of
4 x 4 x

1.5
8 x 20 plate

Example No 2
Bearing Type Connection
Proof load of 1 in dia bolts is Tb = 51 k
Total pre-tensioning force = 10 x 51 = 510 k
Stress in plate = (510) / (8 x 20) = 3.19 ksi
Stress due to eccentric loading

Stress diagram will look like this

Example No 2
3.19 ksi

0.84 ksi

2.35 ksi

10

3.19 ksi

0.84 ksi

4.03 ksi

Example No 2

Stress per in = 0.84 / 10 = 0.084 ksi

For 2 the stress is = 0.084 x 2 = 0.168 ksi
Stress on bolt = 0.84 0.168 = 0.672 ksi
= - 3.18 + 0.672 = - 2.508 ksi
Stress in top bolt = T / Bolt area

For 44 ksi see table J 3.2

So connection is OK.

Assignment # 4
Q-1

170 kips
5.5 in

10 in
4.5

21
3
1.5

14 x 3/4 Dia A502 Grade II rivets

2 Ls of 5 x 5 x

Assignment # 4
Q-2
? kips

60 k
?k
8 x 3/4
rivets

4
3
Slope as shown
A502 Grade I rivets
Requirement: check adequacy of connection

Thanks