ECCENTRICALLY LOADED

BOLTED CONNECTIONS
STRUCTURAL DESIGN – 2
CE 524

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• The beam is connected to a column plate
as shown in figure (a) where eccentric
load is obviously applied
• The beam in figure (b) is connected to a
column with a pair of web angles. This
connection will resist some moment
because the center of gravity of the load
from the beam does not coincide with the
reaction from the column.

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• GENERAL APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ECCENTRICALLY
LOADED CONNECTIONS
• ELASTIC ANALYSIS
• REDUCED OR EFFECTIVE ECCENTRICITY METHOD
• INSTANTANEOUS CENTER OF ROTATION METHOD

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• GENERAL APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSIS
OF ECCENTRICALLY LOADED
CONNECTIONS
• ELASTIC ANALYSIS
• The connection is assumed to be subjected to a
load “P” that has an eccentricity of “e” from the
center of gravity of the bolt group.
• An equal upward and downward force is
considered to act at the center of gravity of the
group bolt.
• The force in a particular bolt will be
𝑃𝑃
plus the force due to the
𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑎𝑎 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔
moment caused by the couple

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• GENERAL APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF
ECCENTRICALLY LOADED CONNECTIONS
• ELASTIC ANALYSIS
• The magnitude of the forces in the bolts due to the
moment “Pe” will be considered.
• The moment produced by the couple is assumed to
cause the plate to rotate about the center of gravity of
the bolt connection, with the amount of rotation or strain
at a particular bolt being proportional to its distance from
the center of gravity.
• Stress is greatest at the bolt that is the greatest distance
from the center of gravity.

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• GENERAL APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ECCENTRICALLY LOADED
CONNECTIONS
• ELASTIC ANALYSIS
𝑀𝑀𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 = 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 = 𝑟𝑟1 𝑑𝑑1 + 𝑟𝑟2 𝑑𝑑2 + 𝑟𝑟3 𝑑𝑑3 + 𝑟𝑟4 𝑑𝑑4
𝑟𝑟1 𝑟𝑟2 𝑟𝑟3 𝑟𝑟4
= = =
𝑑𝑑1 𝑑𝑑2 𝑑𝑑3 𝑑𝑑4
𝑟𝑟1 𝑑𝑑1 𝑟𝑟1 𝑑𝑑2 𝑟𝑟1 𝑑𝑑3 𝑟𝑟1 𝑑𝑑4
𝑟𝑟1 = , 𝑟𝑟2 = , 𝑟𝑟3 = , 𝑟𝑟4 =
𝑑𝑑1 𝑑𝑑1 𝑑𝑑1 𝑑𝑑1

𝑟𝑟1 𝑑𝑑1 2 𝑟𝑟1 𝑑𝑑2 2 𝑟𝑟1 𝑑𝑑3 2 𝑟𝑟1 𝑑𝑑4 2

𝑀𝑀 = + + +
𝑑𝑑1 𝑑𝑑1 𝑑𝑑1 𝑑𝑑1

𝑟𝑟1 ∑ 𝑑𝑑2
𝑀𝑀 =
𝑑𝑑1
ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• GENERAL APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ECCENTRICALLY LOADED
CONNECTIONS
• ELASTIC ANALYSIS
𝑀𝑀𝑑𝑑 𝑀𝑀𝑑𝑑 𝑀𝑀𝑑𝑑 𝑀𝑀𝑑𝑑
𝑟𝑟1 = ∑ 𝑑𝑑12, 𝑟𝑟2 = ∑ 𝑑𝑑22 , 𝑟𝑟3 = ∑ 𝑑𝑑32 , 𝑟𝑟4 = ∑ 𝑑𝑑42
• Each value of r is perpendicular to the line drawn from the center of gravity to the
particular bolt.
• Break the reactions down into its vertical and horizontal components
𝑟𝑟1 𝐻𝐻
=
𝑑𝑑1 𝑣𝑣

𝑟𝑟1 𝑣𝑣 𝑀𝑀𝑑𝑑1 𝑣𝑣
𝐻𝐻 = =
𝑑𝑑1 ∑ 𝑑𝑑 2 𝑑𝑑1

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• GENERAL APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ECCENTRICALLY LOADED
CONNECTIONS
• ELASTIC ANALYSIS
𝑀𝑀𝑣𝑣
𝐻𝐻 =
∑ 𝑑𝑑 2
Similarly:
𝑀𝑀ℎ
𝑉𝑉 =
∑ 𝑑𝑑 2

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• GENERAL APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ECCENTRICALLY LOADED
CONNECTIONS
• ELASTIC ANALYSIS
• Example: Determine the force in the most stressed bolt of the group shown using the elastic
analysis method.

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• GENERAL APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ECCENTRICALLY LOADED
CONNECTIONS
• REDUCED ECCENTRICITY METHOD
• Reduced eccentricity values
• With one gage line of fastener and where n is the number of fastener in the line
1 + 2𝑛𝑛
𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 = 𝑒𝑒𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 +
4
• With two or more gage lines of fasteners symmetrically placed and where n is
the number of fasteners in each line
1 + 𝑛𝑛
𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 = 𝑒𝑒𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 −
2

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• GENERAL APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ECCENTRICALLY LOADED
CONNECTIONS
• INSTANTANEOUS CENTER OR ROTATION METHOD
• The deformation of the bolts are assumed to vary in proportion to their distances from the
instantaneous center.
−10∆ 0.55
𝑅𝑅 = 𝑅𝑅𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 1 − 𝑒𝑒
𝑅𝑅𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 = ∅𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛 𝐴𝐴𝑏𝑏
• where:
• 𝑅𝑅𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 - ultimate shear load for a single fastener
• ∆ - total deformation of a bolt, maximum value experimentally is 0.34”

∑ 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅
𝑃𝑃𝑢𝑢 = ′
𝑒𝑒 + 𝑒𝑒

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• GENERAL APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF
ECCENTRICALLY LOADED CONNECTIONS
• INSTANTANEOUS CENTER OR ROTATION METHOD
• Example 1:
• The bearing – type 7/8” A325 bolts of the connection
shown have a nominal shear strength 𝑟𝑟𝑛𝑛 = 40.8 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘.
Locate the instantaneous center of rotation of the
connection, (a)using the trial – and – error procedure,
and determine the value of 𝑃𝑃𝑛𝑛 . (b) using Table 7-6
through Table 7-13 of AISC Manual determine both
LRFD design strength and ASD allowable strength of
connection.

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• GENERAL APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF
ECCENTRICALLY LOADED CONNECTIONS
• INSTANTANEOUS CENTER OR ROTATION METHOD
• Example 2:
• Using both LRFD and ASD, determine the number of
7/8” A325 bolts in standard – size holes required for
the connection shown. Use A36 steel and assume
that the connection is to be a bearing – type with
threads excluded from the shear plane. Further
assume that the bolts are in single shear and
bearing on ½”. Use the instantaneous center of
rotation method as presented in the tables of Part 7
of the AISC Manual. Assume that 𝐿𝐿𝑐𝑐 = 1.0“ and
deformation at bolt holes at service loads is not a
design consideration.

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• BOLT SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND TENSION
• BEARING – TYPE CONNECTION
𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 = 1.3𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 − 𝑓𝑓 ≤ 𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛
∅𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
Ω𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 = 1.3𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 − 𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 ≤ 𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛
𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛
where:
• ∅ = 0.75 (𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿)
• Ω = 2.00 (𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
• 𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 - nominal tensile stress (AISC Table J3.2)
• 𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑣𝑣 - nominal shear stress (AISC Table J3.2)
• 𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 - required shear stress using LRFD or ASD load combinations

Note: if the required stress, f, in either shear of tension, is equal to or less than 30% of the
corresponding available stress, it is not necessary to investigate the effect of combined stress.
ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• BOLT SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND TENSION
• BEARING – TYPE CONNECTION
• Example:
• The tension member shown has eight 7/8”
A325 high – strength bolts in a bearing –
type connection. Is this a sufficient
number of bolts to resist the applied loads
𝑃𝑃𝐷𝐷 = 80 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 and 𝑃𝑃𝐿𝐿 = 100 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, using the
LRFD and ASD specifications, if the bolt
threads are excluded from the shear
planes?

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• BOLT SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND TENSION
• SLIP – CRITICAL CONNECTION
𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑢
𝑘𝑘𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 =1− (𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿)
𝐷𝐷𝑢𝑢 𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 𝑛𝑛𝑏𝑏

1.5𝑇𝑇𝑎𝑎
𝑘𝑘𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 =1− (𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
𝐷𝐷𝑢𝑢 𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 𝑛𝑛𝑏𝑏
where:
• 𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑢 - tension force due to the LRFD load combination
𝑃𝑃
• 𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑢 = 𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑢
𝑏𝑏
• 𝐷𝐷𝑢𝑢 - ratio of the mean installed pretension to the specified minimum pretension
• 𝐷𝐷𝑢𝑢 = 1.13
• 𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 - minimum fastener tension (AISC SCM Table J3.1)
• 𝑛𝑛𝑏𝑏 - number of bolts carrying the applied tension
• 𝑇𝑇𝑎𝑎 - tension force due to the ASD load combination
𝑃𝑃
• 𝑇𝑇𝑎𝑎 = 𝑛𝑛𝑎𝑎
ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO 𝑏𝑏 ASCOT
 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• BOLT SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND TENSION
• SLIP – CRITICAL CONNECTION
• Example:
• A group of twelve 7/8” A325 high – strength bolts with standard holes is used
in a lap joint for a slip – critical joint designed to prevent slip. The connection
is to resist the service shear loads 𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 = 40 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 and 𝑉𝑉𝐿𝐿 = 50 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, as well as the
tensile service loads 𝑇𝑇𝐷𝐷 = 50 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 and 𝑇𝑇𝐿𝐿 = 50 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘. Is the connection
satisfactory if the faying surface is Class B and the factor for fillers, ℎ𝑓𝑓 = 1.00?

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• BOLT SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND TENSION
• TENSION LOADS ON BOLTED JOINTS
𝑅𝑅𝑛𝑛 = 𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛 𝐴𝐴𝑏𝑏

𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛 = 𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑡𝑡 (𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡)

𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛 = 𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑣𝑣 (𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠)

where:
• ∅ = 0.75 (𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿)
• Ω = 2.00 (𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
• 𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 - nominal tensile strength (AISC SCM Table J3.2)
• 𝐴𝐴𝑏𝑏 - nominal body area of the unthreaded portion of a bolt or its threaded part not
including its upset rods
• If upset rod is used
𝐹𝐹𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 = 0.75𝐹𝐹𝑢𝑢

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• BOLT SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND TENSION
• TENSION LOADS ON BOLTED JOINTS
• Example:
• Determine the design tensile strength (LRFD) and the allowable tensile
strength (ASD) of the bolts for the hanger connection shown if eight 7/8” A490
high – strength bolts with threads excluded from the shear plane are used.
Neglect prying action.

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• BOLT SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND TENSION
• PRYING ACTION
• Limit the number of rows of bolts in a tensile connection, because a large
percentage of the load is carried by the inner rows of multi – row connections,
even at ultimate load.
• For connections subject to pure tensile loads, estimates should be made of
possible prying action and its magnitude

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• BOLT SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND TENSION
• PRYING ACTION
4.44𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇
𝑡𝑡𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = (𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿)
𝑝𝑝𝐹𝐹𝑢𝑢

6.66𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇
𝑡𝑡𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = (𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
𝑝𝑝𝐹𝐹𝑢𝑢
where:
• 𝑇𝑇 – required strength of each bolt
• 𝑇𝑇 = 𝑟𝑟𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑢 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑇𝑇𝑎𝑎
𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 =
𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛. 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏

𝑑𝑑𝑏𝑏
𝑏𝑏 ′ = 𝑏𝑏 −
2
ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• BOLT SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND TENSION
• PRYING ACTION
where:
• 𝑏𝑏 – distance from centerline of bolt to face of tee
• 𝑑𝑑𝑏𝑏 - bolt diameter
• 𝑝𝑝 – tributary length per pair of bolts (perpendicular to plane of paper) preferably not
greater than 𝑔𝑔
• 𝐹𝐹𝑢𝑢 - specified minimum tensile strength of the connecting element

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• BOLT SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND TENSION
• PRYING ACTION
• Example:
• A 10” long WT8 x 22.5 �𝑡𝑡𝑓𝑓 = 0.565,

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT