7.

6 Slip-Critical and Bearing-Type Connections 397

(Borello, D. J., Denavit, M. D., and Hajjar, J. F., 2009). The Specification gives the
following values for the filler factor:
• Where bolts have been added to distribute loads in the filler, hf = 1.0.
• Where bolts have not been added to distribute loads in the filler and one filler
is used, hf = 1.0.
• Where bolts have not been added to distribute loads in the filler and two or
more fillers are used, hf = 0.85.
Filler plates are covered in more detail in the Commentary to AISC Section J3.8.
In this book, we do not use fillers in any connections, so we will always use hf = 1.0.
The resistance factor for LRFD and the safety factor for ASD are different for dif-
ferent types of bolt holes. For standard holes (the only type considered in this book),
these factors are
f = 1.00 and Ω = 1.50
Although slip-critical connections are designed to not slip, if slip does occur because
of an overload, the bolts must be capable of resisting shear and bearing. AISC J3.8
requires that shear and bearing be checked in slip-critical connections.

EXAMPLE 7.4

The connection shown in Figure 7.13a uses 3⁄4-inch-diameter Group A bolts with the
threads in the shear plane. No slip is permitted. Both the tension member and the
gusset plate are of A36 steel. Determine the strength of the connection.

SOLUTION Both the design strength (LRFD) and the allowable strength (ASD) will be com-
puted. For efficiency, the nominal strength for each limit state will be computed
before specializing the solution for LRFD and ASD.

FIGURE 7.13
398 Chapter 7 Simple Connections

Shear strength: For one bolt,

π(3兾4)2
Ab = = 0.4418 in.2
4
Rn = Fnv Ab = 54(0.4418) = 23.86 kips兾bolt

Slip-critical strength: Because no slippage is permitted, this connection is classi-

fied as slip-critical. From AISC Table J3-1, the minimum bolt tension is
Tb = 28 kips. From AISC Equation J3-4,
Rn = m Duhf Tb ns = 0.30(1.13)(1.0)(28)(1.0) = 9.492 kips兾bolt
For four bolts,

Rn = 4(9.492) = 37.97 kips

Bearing strength: Since both edge distances are the same, and the gusset plate is
thinner than the tension member, the gusset plate thickness of 3⁄ 8 inch will be used.
For bearing strength computation, use a hole diameter of
1 3 1 13
h=d+ = + = in.
16 4 16 16

For the holes nearest the edge of the gusset plate,

h 13兾16
c = e −= 1.5 − = 1.094 in.
2 2

Rn = 1.2 c tFu = 1.2(1.094) ⎛⎜ ⎞⎟ (58) = 28.55 kips

3
⎝8⎠

Upper limit = 2.4 dtFu = 2.4 ⎛⎜ ⎞⎟ ⎛⎜ ⎞⎟ (58)

3 3
⎝ 4⎠⎝ 8⎠
= 39.15 kips > 28.55 kips ∴ Usee Rn = 28.55 kips for this bolt.
For the other holes,
13
c = s − h = 3 − = 2.188 in.
16

Rn = 1.2 c tFu = 1.2(2.188) ⎛⎜ ⎞⎟ (58) = 57.11 kips

3
⎝ 8⎠
Upper limit = 2.4 dtFu
= 39.15 kips < 57.11 kips ∴ Use Rn = 39.15 kips for this bolt .

The shearing strength is less than the bearing strength at each hole, so the nominal
strength based on shear and bearing is
Rn = 4(23.86) = 95.44 kips
 7.6 Slip-Critical and Bearing-Type Connections 399

Check the strength of the tension member.

Tension on the gross area:

⎛ 1⎞
Pn = Fy Ag = 36 ⎜ 6 × ⎟ = 108.0 kips
⎝ 2⎠

Tension on the net area: All elements of the cross section are connected, so shear
lag is not a factor and Ae = An. For the hole diameter, use

1 3 1 7
h=d+ = + = in.
8 4 8 8

The nominal strength is

⎛ 1⎞ ⎡ ⎛ 7⎞ ⎤
Pn = Fu Ae = Fu t ( wg − Σh) = 58 ⎜ ⎟ ⎢6 − 2 ⎜ ⎟ ⎥ = 123.3 kips
⎝ 2⎠ ⎣ ⎝ 8⎠ ⎦

Block shear strength: The failure block for the gusset plate has the same dimensions
as the block for the tension member except for the thickness (Figure 7.13b). The gus-
set plate, which is the thinner element, will control. There are two shear-failure planes:
3
Agv = 2 × (3 + 1.5) = 3.375 in.2
8
Since there are 1.5 hole diameters per horizontal line of bolts,

3⎡ ⎛ 7⎞ ⎤
Anv = 2 × ⎢3 + 1.5 − 1.5 ⎜ ⎟ ⎥ = 2.391 in.2
8⎣ ⎝ 8⎠ ⎦

For the tension area,

3⎛ 7⎞
Ant = ⎜ 3 − ⎟ = 0.7969 in.2
8⎝ 8⎠

Since the block shear will occur in a gusset plate, Ubs = 1.0. From AISC Equa-
tion J4-5,

Rn = 0.6 Fu Anv + U bs Fu Ant

= 0.6(58)(2.391) + 1.0(58)((0.7969) = 129.4 kips

with an upper limit of

0.6Fy Agv + UbsFu Ant = 0.6(36)(3.375) + 1.0(58)(0.7969) = 119.1 kips

The nominal block shear strength is therefore 119.1 kips.
400 Chapter 7 Simple Connections

Design Strength for LRFD

Bolt shear兾bearing strength:
fRn = 0.75(95.44) = 71.6 kips
Slip-critical strength:
fRn = 1.0(41.96) = 42.0 kips
Tension on the gross area:
ftPn = 0.90(108.0) = 97.2 kips
Tension on the net area:
ftPn = 0.75(123.3) = 92.5 kips
Block shear strength:
fRn = 0.75(119.1) = 89.3 kips
Of all the limit states investigated, the strength corresponding to slip is the smallest.

ANSWER Design strength = 42.0 kips.

Allowable Strength for ASD
Bolt shear兾bearing strength:
Rn 95.44
= = 47.7 kips
Ω 2.00
Slip-critical strength:
Rn 41.96
= = 28.0 kips
Ω 1.50
Tension on the gross area:
Pn 108.0
= = 64.7 kips
Ω t 1.67
Tension on the net area:
Pn 123.3
= = 61.7 kips
Ω t 2.00
Block shear strength:
Rn 119.1
= = 59.6 kips
Ω 2.00
Of all the limit states investigated, the strength corresponding to slip is the smallest.

ANSWER Allowable strength = 28.0 kips.

 7.6 Slip-Critical and Bearing-Type Connections 401

Tables for Bolt Strength

Manual Tables 7-1 through 7-5 give values for bolt shear, tensile, and slip-critical
strengths and bearing strength at bolt holes. Their use will be illustrated in Example 7.5.

EXAMPLE 7.5

Determine the strength of the connection of Example 7.4 based on the limit states
of shear, slip-critical, and bearing strengths. Use LRFD.

SOLUTION Bolt shear strength: From Manual Table 7-1, for 3/4-inch Group A bolts,
type N (threads included in shear plane), and S (single shear),
frn = 17.9 kips兾bolt
(These tables use a lowercase r to denote the strength of an individual bolt.)
Slip-critical strength: From Manual Table 7-3 (for Group A bolts and
μ = 0.30), use STD (standard hole) and S (single shear). The slip-critical strength is

frn = 9.49 kips兾bolt

Bearing strength: There are two tables in the Manual available for bearing
strength: Table 7-4 for strength based on bolt spacing and Table 7-5 for strength
based on bolt edge distance.
Inner bolts: From Table 7-4, for STD (standard hole), Fu = 58 ksi, the bearing
strength is frn = 78.3 kips兾bolt per inch of connected part thickness. Therefore, for
the gusset plate (the thinner part), the strength is
frn = 78.3t = 78.3(3兾8) = 29.4 kips兾bolt
Edge bolts: From Table 7-5, only two edge distances are given: 11⁄4 inches and
2 inches. Our edge distance is 1.5 inches. We can conservatively use 11⁄4 inches, and
if the strength is not adequate, we can manually compute the bearing strength. The
gusset plate bearing strength is therefore
frn = 44.0t = 44.0(3兾8) = 16.5 kips兾bolt
Even with a conservative estimate of the bearing strength, the slip-critical strength
controls.
ANSWER The strength of the connection based on the limit states investigated is
fRn = 4(9.49) = 38.0 kips.