Steel Connections

Design Issues

Dr. Seshu Adluri

I
Introduction
d i

Steel Connections
Unlike concrete, connections in
steel structures need special
p design
g
Bolts, Rivets and Welds are typical
connectors

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

J i i St
Joining Structural
t l elements
l t
Mechanical fastenings
Mechanically formed joints
Welding
Adhesive
Adh i b bonding
di

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

MECHANICAL FASTENINGS

Rivets
B lti
Bolting
Stud Welding
Powder-Actuated Fastenings
Threaded Fasteners & Nails
Expansion
p Bolts
Adhesive-held fasteners
Mechanically formed joints

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Ri t
Rivets

Old style connectors

Permanent, Need field heating and head forming
Safety issues
Tension on cooling is not estimated accurately
Load distribution is not as good as that for bolts

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Ri t
Rivets

Old style connectors

Permanent, Need field heating and head forming
Safety issues
Tension on cooling is not estimated accurately
Load distribution is not as good as that for bolts

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Pins
Rarely used compared to bolts and welds
Special projects only Golden gate bridge approaches

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt
Bolts

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt
Bolts

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt
Bolts
Carbon Steel Bolts - Normal strength
g ((A307))
Similar to ordinary machine bolts
Lower Strength, low load/shear connectors
High Strength Bolts - (A325,
(A325 A325M
A325M, A490
A490, A490M etc
etc.))
Sec. 3, CISC Handbook
Heat treated for greater strength
Higher shear resistance
Can also be used in Friction Connections
Can be used with or without washers
Bolt function
Snug tight bolts (allow slippage)
Pre-tensioned bolts (slip critical)
Both
B th h
have th
the same ultimate
lti t strength
t th

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

M t i lb
Material behaviour
h i

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

M t i lb
Material behaviour
h i

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt
Bolts
Snug tight bolts (allow slippage)
Easy to install (till about the first impact using the
pneumatic wrench). No inspection for tension
10-20% of tension strength
Pre-tensioned bolts (slip critical no slip)
Costly
C tl tto install,
i t ll need
d iinspection
ti
Repeated loadings, bridges, communication towers,
load reversals, impact, cranes, direct tension, etc.
Safety against twist-off, all bolts yield
Both have the same ultimate strength

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

P t
Pre-tensioned
i dBBolts
lt
Installation
Turn of the nut method (Table 8 CSA-S16)
1/3 turn for Lb < 4db
1/2 turn for 4db < Lb < 8db (or 200 mm)
2/3 turn for longer bolts
Tension indicator washers (ASTM F959) Cl. 23.8.3
Torque wrench
Strain gauges, etc.
Bolt tension as per Table 7, CSA-S16

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

P t
Pretension
i effect
ff t

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

P t
Pretension
i effect
ff t

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

T
Tension
i controlled
t ll d bbolts
lt
Wrench grips both the nut & bolt
When required torch reached,
End twists off
A plunger inside discharges the splined end

Ease of installation & consistency

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt di
Bolt dimensions
i
Standard dimensions,, thread
lengths, bolt lengths for
different grips
Handbook p.6-152 to 6-156
Nominal Length
Gauge dist. P.6-162 Bolt Size Added
To Grip
5/8 7/8
1
7/8 1 1/8
1 1

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt
Bolts
Tension
indicator
washers

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

T
Tension
i iindicator
di t W Washers
h
ASTM F959 washers (Cl. 23.8.3)

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Tension indicator
Washers
Washer with
Protrusions
(Gap)
Protrusions
fl tt as Bolt
flatten B lt
is tightened
Visually
p
inspected to
ensure that
protrusions are
flat (gap
closed))

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Tension indicator
Washers

Load Indicator Washers

with a Visible Dye that
squirts out when the
washer
h h has sufficiently
ffi i tl
flattened

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Pre tension effect on shear force
Pre-tension
on the joint

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

L d vs. El
Load Elongation
ti

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

P t
Pre-tension
i effect
ff t

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Pre-tension effect
on tension force on
the joint

As the applied tension on the joint

increases, the bolt elongates a
little and eventually elongates
enough g ((to the length
g before
tightening. At that point, the bolt
pretension effect disappears and
the joint will behave as if the
pretension had never been there.
p
If the joint is unloaded at that point,
the clamping effect due to
pretension will return.

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt BIBLE!
Bolts
Guide to Design Criteria for Bolted and Riveted Joints by
Geoffrey L. Kulak, John W. Fisher & John H. A. Struik at:

http://www boltcouncil org/files/2ndEditionGuide pdf

http://www.boltcouncil.org/files/2ndEditionGuide.pdf

RCSC: Research Council on Structural Connections

Specification for Structural Joints Using ASTM A325 or A490 Bolts

http://www.boltcouncil.org/index.html

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B l H
Bolt Heads
d

Required
Markings

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Typical
Bolted
J i t
Joints

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Typical Bolted Joints

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Typical Bolted Joints

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Typical Bolted
Joints

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Typical Bolted Joints

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B i ttype b
Bearing bolts
lt iin Sh
Shear

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Bearing type Bolted Joints

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt iin Sh
Bolts Shear

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt b
Bolt bearing
i effect
ff t

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt in
Bolts i ttension
i ffailure
il

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt bl
Bolt block
k ttear outt effect
ff t

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Sh
Shear llag effect
ff t

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

D i ffor b
Design bolts
lt Cl 13.12
Cl. 13 12
Shear: Vr = 0.6b n m AbFu-bolt
u bolt >V
V f, b =0.8
0.8
(Cl. 13.12.1.2)

Bearing: Br = 3br tdb n Fu-plate >Vf, br =0.8

(Cl 13.12.1.2)
(Cl. 13 12 1 2)

Tension: Tr = 0.75b AbFu-bolt >Tf, b =0.8

(Cl. 13.12.1.3)

Slip resistance (Cl. 13.12.2.2):

Vs = 0.53 c1 Ks mn AbFu-bolt >V (table 3 CSA-S16)
2 2
Vf Tf V T
Combined: + 1 + 1.9 1
Vr Tr Vs nAb Fu

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Design for bolts
bolts, Spacing
Spacing, etc
etc.
If threads are intercepted in shear, reduce A to 70%
spacing: 2.7db (usually 3db) Cl. 22.3.1
Min. Edge dist.: Table 6 (based on db & edge type)
Max. Edge dist.: 12t or 150mm
End distance: Table 6 or 1.5 db
Bolt hole diam.: db + 2mm (or 1/16)
Eff. hole diam.: hole diam.+2mm (for punched holes)
dh=db+4 mm (punched holes); dh=db +2mm (drilled holes)
Installation and inspection: Cl. 23, Washers: Cl. 23.5

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

 Its cheesy
cartoon time!
Bolt Power!

She has the

hex bolt
power! He has the other kind!

Together, bolt and nut can keep the structure intact!

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri
E
Eccentric
ti b bolted
lt d connection
ti
L = Moment/Load

8
1
b P
7 2
b
6 3 Equivalent
b eccentric load
5 4

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

 E
Eccentric
ti b bolted
lt d connection
ti

Rotation effect only Direct shear effect only

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

E
Eccentric
ti b bolted
lt d connection
ti

Resultant of both rotation and direct shear effects

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri
B lt Prying
Bolts P i action
ti

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt Prying
Bolts P i action
ti

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Prying effect

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B lt Prying
Bolts P i action
ti
Use procedure in the Handbook (no code
clauses))

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Bolts
Prying
action

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Welds

MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding

Flux core welding Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

 Welds

Stick welding torch (tig)

(Tungsten Inert Gas) welding

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

 Automated Welding
g

Plasma Welding & Cutting

Tungsten Inert Gas Arc

Welding (TIG)

laser welding wire feed system

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri
W ld
Welds

Weld failure under

electron microscope

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Types
yp of
welds

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Fillet welds

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Fillet welds

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

B tt Welds
Butt W ld

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

W ldi symbols
Welding b l

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

W ldi symbols
Welding b l

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

W ldi symbols
Welding b l

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

W ldi symbols
Welding b l

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

D i off W
Design Welds
ld Cl 13.13
Cl. 13 13
Groove Welds w =0.67
0 67
Base metal: Vr = 0.67w Am Fu
Weld metal: Vr = 0.67w Aw Xu

Fillet Welds w =0.67

Base metal: Vr = 0.67w Am Fu
Weld metal: Vr = 0.67w Aw Xu (1+0.5sin1.5)Mw
governs if > 45o for 350W

Flare bevel weld in OWSJ:

Vr = 0.67w Aw Fu Aw = 0.5 wfL

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

W ld sizes,
Weld i etc
t
Groove Welds
Min. groove depths for different situations applicable

Fillet Welds
Max. size: Dmax = t-2 mm t > 6mm
Dmax = t t 6mm
Dmax = 0.75t for the rounded edges of rolled
sections
ti
Min. size: Dmin = 5 mm tmax 12mm
Dmin = 6 mm 12mm tmax 20mm
Dmin = 8 mm 20mm tmax
Min length Lmin = max (4D, 40 mm)
Lap Joints: min. lap length Llap = 5tmin or 25 mm

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

P bl
Problems iin W
Weld
ld placement
l

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

P bl
Problems iin W
Weld
ld placement
l

Alignment not very good

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

Problems
in Weld
placement
l

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri

R f
References
Many pictures in this file are taken from various sources such as CISC, AISC, etc. The copyrights for those materials are with the original
sources. No copyright is claimed or implied by Dr. Seshu Adluri for things that are already under copyright protection. This file is for
teaching purposes olny.

Steel Connections -Dr. Seshu Adluri