Profesor: David Wong Diaz
Profesor: David Wong Diaz
Profesor: David Wong Diaz
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Introduction
This presentation was developed as a teaching aid with the support of the
American Institute of Steel Construction. Its objective is to provide technical
background and information for bolting and welding. The information
provided is based on common design and construction practices for
structures of twelve stories or less.
The AISC Digital Library case study presentations document the construction
of a steel frame for an office building. The case study includes photographs
that were taken throughout the construction of the structural steel frame
including detailing, fabrication, and erection. Project data including plans,
schedules, specifications and other details are also included. The case study
presentations are available in the Learning Opportunities section at
www.aisc.org.
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What Will You Gain From This
Presentation?
• General knowledge of structural steel
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Benefits of Structural Steel
Some benefits associated with use of structural steel for owners are:
• Steel allows for reduced frame construction time and the ability to construct
in all seasons
• Steel makes large spans and bay sizes possible, providing more flexibility for
owners
• Steel is easier to modify and reinforce if architectural changes are made to a
facility over its life
• Steel is lightweight and can reduce foundation costs
• Steel is durable, long-lasting and recyclable (AISC 1999)
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Unique Aspects of Steel Construction
• The primary connection methods for structural steel are bolting and welding
• A structure’s strength depends on proper use of these connection methods
• Connections made in a fabrication shop are called shop connections
• Connections made in the field by the steel erector are called field connections
• Bolting and welding may be used for shop connections and field connections
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Connecting Structural Steel
• A fabrication shop will have a desired fastening method suited to its equipment
and fabrication methods
• Field connections are typically bolted
• Welding may be used for field connections where bolting is either impractical or
undesirable
• Welding is better suited to the controlled environment of a fabrication shop
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Structural Bolting
• During hoisting, connectors will install a minimum of two bolts per connection
• The rest of the bolts are installed and tightened after the structure is plumbed
• A systematic pattern must be followed when tightening bolts so that a joint is
drawn together and all fasteners are properly installed
(SSTC 2001)
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Structural Bolting
Per the Occupational Safety & Health Administration Standard 1926.754(b)(2), “At
no time shall there be more than four floors or 48 feet (14.6 m), whichever is less,
of unfinished bolting or welding above the foundation or uppermost permanently
secured floor, except where the structural integrity is maintained as a result of the
design.” 11
Structural Bolting
• There are many bolt types, installation methods, and joint types used in
structural steel construction
• When left exposed, bolts may be used to make an architectural expression
(Green, Sputo, and Veltri) 12
ASTM Bolt Types
• A325 and A490 bolts are available in diameters ranging from 1/2” to 1-1/2”
• The most common sizes are 3/4”, 7/8”, and 1”
• High-strength bolts are commonly available in incremental lengths up to 8”
(AISC)
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Washers
Shank Thread
Head
Length
• Grip is the distance from behind the bolt head to the back of the nut or washer
It is the sum of the thicknesses of all the parts being joined exclusive of
washers
• Thread length is the threaded portion of the bolt
• Bolt length is the distance from behind the bolt head to the end of the bolt
(AISC & NISD 2000) 16
Bolted Joint Types
Bearing
Yield
• In a bearing joint the connected elements are assumed to slip into bearing
against the body of the bolt
• If the joint is designed as a bearing joint the load is transferred through bearing
whether the bolt is installed snug-tight or pretensioned (AISC) 19
Threads in the Shear Plane
• The shear plane is the plane
between two or more pieces
under load where the pieces
tend to move parallel from
each other, but in opposite
directions
• The threads of a bolt may
either be included in the
shear plane or excluded
Threads Included In The Shear Plane
from the shear plane
• The capacity of a bolt is
greater with the threads
excluded from the shear
plane
• The most commonly used
bolt is an ASTM A325 3/4”
bolt with the threads
included in the shear plane
(AISC & NISD 2000)
Threads Excluded From The Shear Plane
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Slip-Critical Joints
Per the RCSC Specification (2000), Slip-critical joints are only required in the
following applications involving shear or combined shear and tension:
1. Joints that are subject to fatigue load with reversal of the loading direction
(not applicable to wind bracing)
2. Joints that utilize oversized holes
3. Joints that utilize slotted holes, except those with applied load approximately
perpendicular to the direction of the long dimension of the slot
4. Joints in which slip at the faying surfaces would be detrimental to the
performance of the structure
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Snug-tight Installation
Snug-tight is the tightness attained with a few hits of an impact wrench or the full
effort of an ironworker using an ordinary spud wrench to bring the connected plies
into firm contact
(RCSC 2000)
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Turn-of-Nut Installation
Feeler Gages
• Another way to try to ensure proper pretensioning of a bolt is through the use of
direct tension indicators (DTIs)
• These washers have protrusions that must bear against the unturned element
• As the bolt is tightened the clamping force flattens the protrusions and reduces
the gap
• The gap is measured with a feeler gage
• When the gap reaches the specified size the bolt is properly pretensioned
(AISC & NISD 2000) 27
Installation of DTIs
• Galvanized bolts and nuts (above) are provided by the supplier in a set and
special storage requirements
• Each bolt/nut set is pretested by the supplier and shipped together and must be
kept together as an assembly
• Poor thread fit may result if the bolt and nut are mismatched
• The lubrication on galvanized fasteners is generally more durable than that on
black bolts, but protected storage is still recommended
• A490 bolts are not allowed to be galvanized (SSTC 2001) 33
Production Lots
• In addition to the erector’s quality control program, tests and inspection are
specified by the Engineer of Record and/or the local building authority
• A local building inspector may request that tests in addition to those specified
by the Engineer of Record be performed
• Snug-tightened joints require visual inspection for firm contact and proper use
of washers
• Pretensioned joints require pre-installation verification and routine observation
of proper application
• Slip-critical joints require inspection of the faying surfaces in addition to the
above inspections
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Inspections for the Construction Manager
• Inspect the turn-of-nut matchmarks to ensure the bolts have been pretensioned
• If F1852 bolts are used, make sure the ends have been snapped off all bolts
(above)
In some cases, due to insufficient clearance for the installation wrench,
F1852 bolts will be tightened by alternative methods so the ends will not be
snapped off
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Bolting Cost Considerations
The types of joints used in a structure are somewhat dependent on the overall
design of the structure, but these are some points to consider:
• The erector may prefer certain bolt and joint types over others due to
equipment requirements, experience, and installation times
• Snug-tightened joints are normally the most economical bolted joints (Ruby
2003)
• For pretensioned joints, F1852’s and DTI’s are popular and can be economical
• Slip-critical joints are the most costly joints, and should only be specified when
necessary (Ruby 2003)
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Structural Welding
Butt
Lap Corner
Edge
Tee
• Shown above are types of structural joints which are established by positions of
the connected material relative to one another
• Lap, tee, and butt joints are most common (AISC)
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Welding Terminology
Symbolic Profiles
Actual Profiles
• Groove welds are specified when a fillet weld is not appropriate for the job
The configuration of the pieces may not permit fillet welding
A strength greater than that provided by a fillet weld is required
• Groove welds are made in the space or groove between the two pieces being
welded (AISC & NISD 2000)
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Full Penetration Groove Welds
• The bevel or “J” preparation extends over most of or the entire face of the
material being joined
• Complete fusion takes place
• In some types of full penetration groove welds the material will be beveled from
one side of the plate with a separate plate on the opposite side – called backing
or a backing bar (AISC & NISD 2000) 49
Partial Penetration Groove Welds
Partial joint penetration welds are used when it is not necessary for the strength of
the joint to develop the full cross section of the members being joined
(AISC & NISD 2000) 50
Welding Positions
• The size of a weld must match the size specified on the drawings
• Some welds may meet the required size after a single pass of the welder
• Larger weld sizes may require multiple passes to meet the size requirement
• Common single pass welds include fillet welds up to and including 5/16 inch
and thin plate butt welds with no preparation
• Common multiple pass welds include single bevel full penetration groove welds,
single bevel partial penetration groove welds, and fillet welds over 5/16 inch
• The weld in the above picture is a multiple pass fillet weld 53
Weld Accessibility
• Access holes are required for
some welds, such as the welded
flange connection shown to the Extension Bar
right
The top access hole allows
for a continuous backing
bar to be placed under the
Backing Bar
Column
top flange
The bottom access hole Weld Access
allows for complete access Holes
to weld the entire width of
the bottom flange
• A detail of a weld access hole
for a welded flange connection
is shown below
Seat Angle
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) is also known as manual, stick, or hand
welding
• An electric arc is produced between the end of a coated metal electrode and
the steel components to be welded
• The electrode is a filler metal covered with a coating
• The electrode’s coating has two purposes:
• It forms a gas shield to prevent impurities in the atmosphere from getting
into the weld
• It contains a flux that purifies the molten metal (AISC & NISD 2000)
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GMAW Welding
• Equipment used for welding will vary depending on the welding process and
whether the welding is being done in the shop or in the field
• A Flux Cored Arc Welding machine for shop welding is pictured above left
• A Shielded Metal Arc Welding machine for field welding is pictured above right 59
Weather Impacts on Welding
• It is important for both the welder and those working in the area around a
welding process to be safety conscious
• The welding arc should never be looked at with the naked eye
• AWS publishes many safety and health fact sheets which are available for
download at their web site: www.aws.org 61
Welding Safety
• In addition to the erector’s quality control program, tests and inspections are
specified by the Engineer of Record and/or the local building authority
• A local building inspector may request that tests in addition to those specified
by the Engineer of Record be performed
• Some problems that can be found in welds include:
Lack of fusion Cracks Wrong size
Porosity Insufficient penetration Poor workmanship
• There are several weld tests and inspections that are commonly used 64
Visual Inspection
• Visual inspection is the most frequently used inspection and is the only
inspection required unless the specification calls for a more stringent inspection
method
• Inspection is done by the welder before, during, and after welding
• When outside inspection is required it should also be done before, during, and
after welding
• Minor problems can be identified and corrected before the weld is complete
(AISC & NISD 2000) 65
Dye Penetrant Test
• Radiographic inspection, or X-ray, can also be used to detect flaws inside welds
• Invisible rays penetrate the metal and reveal flaws on an x-ray film or
fluorescent screen (above)
• This is the most costly of the inspection methods
(AISC & NISD 2000) 69
Welding Cost Considerations
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Structural Steel: The Material of Choice
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References
AISC. (n.d.). Steel Connections: Behavior and Practice [35mm Slide Show with Script].
American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. Chicago, IL.
AISC. (2001). LRFD Manual of Steel Construction, Third Edition. American Institute of Steel
Construction, Inc. Chicago, IL.
AISC. (2002a). Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings. American Institute of Steel
Construction, Inc. Chicago, IL.
AISC. (2002b). Design Guide 15 – AISC Rehabilitation and Retrofit Guide. American Institute of
Steel Construction, Inc. Chicago, IL.
AISC. (2003). High Strength Bolts: A Primer for Structural Engineers. American Institute of Steel
Construction, Inc. Chicago, IL.
AISC & NISD. (2000). Detailer Training Series [CD-ROM set]. American Institute of Steel
Construction, Inc. and National Institute of Steel Detailing. Chicago, IL. (Available from
AISC, One East Wacker Drive, Suite 3100, Chicago, IL 60601).
American Welding Society, (AWS). (2004a). American Welding Society Web Site. Available at:
http://www.aws.org/. Viewed August, 2004.
American Welding Society, (AWS). (2004b). “Structural Welding Code.” ANSI/AWS D1.1-2004,
Miami, FL.
Green, P. S., Sputo, T., and Veltri, P. (n.d.). Connections Teaching Toolkit – A Teaching Guide
for Structural Steel Connections. American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. Chicago, IL.
Research Council on Structural Connections, (RCSC). (2000). Specification for Structural Joints
Using ASTM A325 or A490 Bolts. American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. Chicago, IL.
Ruby, D.I. (2003) . “All About Bolts.” AISC Modern Steel Construction, May.
SSTC. (2001). Structural Bolting Handbook. Steel Structures Technology Center, Inc. Novi, MI.
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