RISD 2154 STEEL STRUCTURES

Topic 7: Bolts and Shear Connections

Erik Anders Nelson PE SE

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Bolted Connection (Beam to Girder)

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References for Connections

Specification J

“Specification for Structural Joints Using ASTM A325 or A490

Research Council on Structural Connections (included in Part
16 of the Manual of Steel Construction)

American Welding Society (AWS), Publication D1.1

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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

The Research Council on Structural Connections (RCSC) prepares

specifications and documents related to structural connections
RCSC’s Specification for Structural Joints Using ASTM A325 or A490 Bolts
(2000) is a widely used specification which discusses joints, fasteners,
limit states, installation, and inspections
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Introduction to Steel Bolts

Types of Steel Connections

– Bolted
– Welded
Types of Bolts
– Common Bolts – A307 – Not Common
– High Strength Bolts – A325 or A490

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Parts of the Bolt Assembly

Grip Washer
Washer Nut
Face

Shank Thread
Head
Length

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Bolt ID
ASTM Bolt Types

(AISC & NISD 2000)

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Bolt Dia
Common Bolt Sizes

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”

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Washers

Hardened steel washers are used in many structural connections to spread

pressure from the bolt tightening process over a larger area
Washers may also be used to cover an oversized or slotted hole.
Tapered washers (above left) are used when the surface being bolted has a
sloped surface, such as the flange of a channel or an S shape
A325 bolts require a washer under the element (head or nut) being turned to
tighten the bolt (shown under the nut, above right)
A490 bolts require a washer under both the head and nut

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Inspections for the Construction

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Types of Bolted Connections

Slip Critical Connected elements held together by

Connections friction on faying surface due to
bolt clamping – no slip allowed

Bolts fully tensioned

“faying surface”, or contact surface

Bearing Type Connected elements bear on bolts, transfer

connections force through bolt shear from bearing

Bolts snug tight

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N vs SC and uses

Bearing (A325N, A490N) Connections

– Typically used in simple beam connections Bearing
– Easier to install, less costly than SC
– Also A325X but usually threads are included (N) not excluded (X)

Slip Critical (A325SC, A490SC) Connections

– Used unless connection undergoes load reversals, fatigue
– Moment connections and bracing connections are often specified
as SC
– Not used if bolts subject to only tension

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Methods of tightening

Bearing Bolts
– Full effort using spud wrench
– or few impacts of an impact wrench

Slip Critical/Pretensioned Bolts

– Turn-of-the-Nut Method (additional 1/3 to 1 turn after snug)
– Calibrated Wrench Method
– DTI (Direct Tension Indicating Washers)
– Twist-off (commonly called TC Bolts) TC = Tension Controlled
– Other Proprietary Bolted Assemblies

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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
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Methods of tightening

Direct Tension Indicator (DTI’s)

Twist Off Bolts (Called TC Bolts, “Tension Control”)

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ASTM F1852 Installation (AISC)

F1852 bolts are twist-off-type tension-

control bolts
These bolts must be pretensioned with a
twist-off-type tension-control bolt
installation wrench that has two coaxial
chucks
The two chucks turn opposite to one
another to tighten the bolt
The splined end of the F1852 bolt shears
off at a specified

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ASTM F959 Direct Tension Indicators

DTI’s

Feeler Gages

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

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Calibrated Wrench Method

At least once each working day, using the bolt tension calibration device, the
erector should calibrate the wrenches and demonstrate that the installation
procedure and equipment being used achieves a tension that is at least 5
percent higher than that specified in the RCSC Specification Table 8.1.

The installation procedure should be revalidated or recalibrated any time a

component of the installation process, such as the operator, impact wrench,
compressor, or fastener component combination, is changed.

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Types of Bolt Holes in Members

Standard (STD) Bolt Dia + 1/16”

Bolt Dia + 5/16”

Cannot be used in
Oversize (OVS) bearing type connection

Can be used in any or all plies

of both slip critical and bearing
Short Slotted (SSL) Connections. Requires washers.

Can be used in ONE ply of

of slip critical or bearing
Long Slotted (LSL) connection at any one faying
surface. Requires washers

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Hole Size

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Spacing and Edge Distance for Bolts

Minimum Spacing
– minimum center-to-center distance of 2-2/3 diameters (with 3
diameters preferred)
– Add spacing increment C2 for enlarged holes (OVS, SSL, and LSL)
– 3” is common

Minimum Edge Distance

– Hole punching near edge can cause bulging/cracking of steel near
hole
– Fastener can tear out through metal if too close to edge
– Provide 1.5-2 bolt diameters minimum edge distance (standard
practice)
– Add edge distance increment C2 for enlarged holes (OVS, SSL,
and LSL)
– 1.5” is common
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Failure Modes for Bolted Joints

Shear failure of bolt

Failure of bolt and/or plates by bearing

Tension/Shear Yielding failure

Tension/Shear Rupture failure of effective net area

Block shear failure of member

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Single Shear vs. Double Shear

Lap Joint – Single Shear

P P
P

Butt Joint – Double Shear

P/2 P/2
P

P
P/2 P/2

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Design Shear Strength of Bearing Type Connections

P
P
P
P

Small amount of slip occurs,

Bolt snug tight, must placing bolt in bearing and
resist shear and bearing shear from applied loads
forces from connected
parts

Design for shearing of bolts, bearing of connected parts on

bolts (all using factored loads)

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Threads in the Shear Plane

Threads Included In The Shear Plane = N

Threads Excluded From The Shear Plane = X

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Design Shear Strength of Bolts

Shear Strength

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2005 Spec

OLD

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2010 Spec

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Some More Info on Bolting

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More Info on Bolting

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Design Shear Strength of Slip-Critical Connections

P
P

No slip, so bolt should Force transfer through

not be in bearing or shear friction on faying surface
for normal loading

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ASIDE: Design Strength of Slip-Critical Connections

Even though bolts are not stressed in shear – AISC specification

still provides a nominal design shear strength

Allows designer to treat all connections the same

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Slip Critical Bolts

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Slip Critical Bolts

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Tb

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Design Bearing Strength of Bolted Connections

Check bearing strength for both types of bolted connections

NOTE: In limit state, slip critical connection can slip into bearing
A measure of the strength of the material upon which bolts bear
(not the bolts themselves)

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Design Bearing Strength for Bolted Connections

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Bearing

Bearing Bearing Bearing

Yield Fracture Fracture

Bearing
Yield

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Bearing Strength

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 Simple Connections

Designed as flexible connections

Connections are assumed to be free to rotate
Vertical shear forces are the primary forces transferred by the connection
Require a separate bracing system for lateral stability
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Common Simple Connections

Single Plate Connection (Shear Tab) Double Angle Connection

A plate is welded to the supporting
member and bolted to the web of the
supported beam
The in-plane pair of legs are
attached to the web of the supported
beam and the out-of-plane pair of
legs to the flange or web of the
supporting member
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 Common Simple Connections

Shear End Plate Connection Single Angle Connection

A plate is welded perpendicular to One leg is attached to the web of the
the end of the supported web and supported beam and the other leg to
attached to the supporting member the flange or web of the supporting
member

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Steel Frame Connection Types

• Simple connections (A above) have some rigidity, but are

assumed to be free to rotate
• Partially-Restrained moment connections (B and C above)
are designed to be semi-rigid
• Fully-Restrained moment connections (D and E above) are
designed to be fully rigid
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Shear Connection

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Block Shear Failure

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 Common Simple Connections

Seated Connection Tee Connection

An angle is mounted with one leg vertical The stem of a WT section is
against the supporting column, and the
connected to the supported member
other leg provides a “seat” upon which
the beam is mounted and the flange attached to the
supporting member
A stabilizer connection is also provided at
the top of the web
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Bm-Girder or Bm- Col Web

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Bm-Col Flg

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Elastic Method

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