BOLTED CONNECTIONS

a. Connection
 Bearing type connection (Sliding is allowed) Commented [SDP1]: When there is force applied to the
connection, the connection will slide and bear against the
head bolt to the steel plate/member, thus it’s called bearing type
connection.
T
T Once the bolt and plate are already bearing against each
other, that’s it’s final form.
nut
All connections require washer.
threads head Commented [SDP2]: In some bolt, it’s not threaded all to
the head.

Failure When you thread a nut, you’re effectively decreasing the

T T diameter, thus decreasing the area, unlike when the stem is
shear plane
solid without thread, thus the capacity of the bolt likewise
goes down in a threaded stem. Thus the type separation in
the table.
stem

Threads Threads
 Allowed only for members with forces in one
included excluded
direction only
N X
 Slip critical connection (Friction type connection) F Commented [SDP3]: Sliding is not allowed, In order to
o For members whose forces can reverse in direction (e.g. supports of moving live prevent sliding, the force on the bolt must be decreased.
Friction is the one preventing the connection from sliding. In
loads) connections where sliding is critical, in this type of
o Sliding is prevented connections, this are members where forces can reversed, say
you have a moving load, the forces in the diagonal in a truss
follows the shear diagram, and the top and bottom chord
b. Material (p. 5-39) follows the moment diagram. The force in a diagonal will
 A-307 → ordinary change signs depending on the location of the load in a span,
thus reversing force from tension to compression. But still is
 A-325 high strength weak in fatigue. Fatigue is when the section losses strength
due to varying fluctuating stresses (rising, decreasing) which
 A-490 is a major concern with connections, Bolted and Welded.

HOLE SIZE When your member force is reversing then it is slip critical.
Commented [SDP4]: The code recognizes 3 types of
washer bolts.
Commented [SDP5]: Used for Studs, Anchors, Bolts,
Rods, etc. Fy = 414 MPa, Fu = 450 MPa
Commented [SDP6]: Used for Connections
Standard Oversized Short Long
hole hole slotted slotted
BOLT HOLE DIMENSIONS:

Bolt diameter = 12 mm Commented [SDP7]: Standard = db + 2mm

Oversized = db + 4mm
Short Slotted = db + 2mm x db + 6mm
Long Slotted = varies, consult with Table 510.3.3
Standard Oversized Short slotted Long slotted = db + 2 x db + 26 for 16mm
= db + 30 for 20mm
14 16 When your hole is slotted, your force direction is important.
Along the slot allows the bolt to move, but perpendicular to
the slot almost returns the concept of an oversized bolt.
17 17

Threads Included (N)

Threads Excluded (X)
transverse
Slip Critical (F)

A-325N
A-325X
A-325F b parallel

DESIGN HOLE DIAMETER:

1
For standard holes,
Design hole diameter = Actual hole diameter + 2mm = Bolt diameter + 4m

Lap Splice

Connection Failures:

 Shear bolt failure

 Bearing failure of plate Commented [SDP8]: These are the two types of failure
 Tearing of plate for a bearing type bolt.

In a bearing type, you have your Bolt which is made up of

high grade steel, and your Plate which is Structural Grade,
which is lower and strength.

Lc Lc When two materials of different strength bears against each

other, the weaker material will give in.

edge c-c In a bearing failure, we can consider the bearing capacity of

dist. spcg the plate, not the bolt, since your bolt has a higher capacity
compared to the structural plate.
 1.5db >3db
In the drawing, the direction of the force is from the right to
left. The capacity depends on Lc among other factors.
Shear → single shear
→ double shear (or multiple) For shear bolt failure, 510.3.2.
2 shear planes
T Minimum Spacing
2 Lc more than equal 2db
T Lc should be 2.5db sa gilid, 3db sa cc (510.3.3)
A v  Shear area T
2

Pv Maximum Spacing (510.3.5)

To prevent separation of plates.

4 shear planes
T
3 T
2
db T
3 T
T 2
3

LRFD FOR BOLTED CONNECTIONS

2
BOLT SHEAR STRENGTH: Commented [SDP9]: The second column is Fnt, Nominal
Tension.
TypeFnv,
N Bearing Bolts
Nominal Shear.

A325 – are not excluded, Type N, A325N

A325F, A490F – slip critical types of bolts
A325 – are excluded, Type X. A325X
M in material definitions means metric, in mm
A490 – not excluded, Type N
A490 – excluded, Type X

TypeStrength
X Bearing
in MPa, Bolts
Type doesn’t matter in tension but matters
in Shear.

Type N Bearing Bolts

Type X Bearing Bolts

3
Type F Slip Critical Bolts Commented [SDP10]: High Strength Bolts in Slip Critical
Connections

Tb = bolt pretension (Tension in the bolt, Compression force

on the plate)
Ns = Number of shear planes.
The term Du(hsc)Tb(Ns) is your normal force.
Mu = coefficient of friction
Rn = Friction Force/Capacity against Sliding, the one needed
to be overcome for the connection to slide.
Hsc = hole factor

Class A = good finish, smoother

Class B = rougher

???

4
 Commented [SDP11]: Turn of the Nut Method is
conservative, that your actual bolt pretension is 13% higher
than the value in the table in the code. Unlike in the
Calibrated wrench you can take Du as 1.

The Hole factor (hsc) - The friction coefficient depends on

the contact area. The washer is the one in contact of the
plate, and the contact area between the washer and the plate
depends on how big your hole is.

In designing, your assumption will always be for standard

holes. But the fabricator opts for the oversized hole, for
sometimes in installing the structural members, the holes
don’t always match up perfectly.

Bearing Failure – same with bearing type connections

Shear Failure – different from bearing type connections

The shear capacity is reduced so that the stresses in the bolt

are lowered to ensure that there will be no sliding.

5
BOLT TIGHTENING METHODS:
1) CALIBRATED WRENCH
2) TURN-OF-THE-NUT METHOD
6
Commented [SDP12]: All connections require washer.
When you tighten a bolt, you tighten the nut, not the head.
You just hold the head while you tighten the nut. Washer is a
softer material, acts like a gasket to distribute your stress
evenly. Your bolt will be in tension when it’s tightened,
that’s why in the code you a prescribed minimum pretension.
When your bolt is in tightened, your connected members will
be in compression and this compression force will introduce
the friction. The washer will be pressed against the plates
and your plates will be pressed against each other. The
compression force will be equal to the minimum bolt
pretension. Your friction is the “mu” multiplied by the
normal force, and your normal force is your compression
force.
Two rounds of tightening, the Initial tightening, by the time
you finish all the nut, you will tighten the nuts for the second
time, the Final Tightening.
There are two methods to attain bolt pretension.
1. Turn of the Nut Method – bolt tightening method. When
the bolt is in its snug tight position, there will be an
additional number of turns depending on the number and
diameter of the bolt. (AISC)
2. Calibrated Method – commonly used, the calibrated
wrench has a setting for the prescribed torque.
A tightened bolt to its final tightening, will not be subject to
reuse. Bolts in initial tightening can be reused or readjusted.
PLATE BEARING STRENGTH:
Pp
t

A p  Bearing area  d b  t

Commented [SDP13]: The concave area is where you

have your bearing stress, but instead of a half circle, you will
consider just the rectangular projection.

The dt in the eqn of Rn is the bearing area, and the constant

beside it is the multiplier to convert the rectangular area back
to the half circle bearing area.

a. is stricter than b, although 2 is stricter, but it’s for slotted

hole.

We use the design diameter of the hole.

Actual Diameter = db + 2mm
Design Diameter = AD + 2mm = db + 4mm

Fu = 400 MPa (A-36), 448 MPa (A-50)

Other Considerations:
 Minimum bolt spacing in line of transmitted force
 Minimum edge distance in direction of transmitted force

7
  Maximum edge distance
 Maximum bolt spacing
 For tension members, check also failure from yi
 elding and fracture.
Yielding - FyAg
Fracture - FuAe

Sample 1:
Determine the maximum force that the splice connection below can carry. Commented [SDP14]: Use ASD in this example.
19Ø, A-490X bolts Reapply learned concepts from Tensions
PL 12 mm, A-36 steel Determine the critical path, etc.

T
T

Path 2
70
T 80 T
80
70
40 40
Path 1

a. Yielding failure Commented [SDP15]: Yielding Failure and Fracture

T  0.6Fy A g  0.6 248 12  300   10 3  535.68 kN Failure, are failure for tension member.

b. Fracture failure In addition to this are two failures in the bolt connections.
Path 1: Net width = 300  222.2  255.60 mm Determine the Single Bolt Capacity, multiply it later on by
 402  the number of bolts, to get Total Capacity.
Path 2: Net width = 300  322.2  2   243.40 mm (governs!)
 4  80 
T  0.5Fu A e  0.5400 243.4  12  10 3  584.16 kN
c. Single bolt capacity Commented [SDP16]: Introduces the two types of failure.
1. Shear
Fv  276 MPa
π
Fbolt  Fv A v  276  192 103  78.254 kN (governs!)
4
2. Bearing
Fbolt  Fp A p  1.2Fu td b  1.2 400 12 19   10 3  109.44 kN
T  78.2545 bolts  391.27 kN
 T  391.27 kN

8
Sample 2:
3m 3m 3m 3m

4m

500 kN

Joint A
C
Gusset plate
W12  87


  W12  53


T


Design the connection using A-50 steel and A-325 F bolts.

Compression member
C = 312.5 kN
W12 87 : bf  307.98 mm; t f  20.57 mm
Assume gusset plate t = 28 mm.

Bolt capacity
Use 22 mm Ø bolts std. holes
1. Shear
Fv  117 MPa
π
Fbolt  117  222 103  44.476 kN
4
2. Bearing

9
 Fbolt  Fp A p  1.2Fu td b  1.2248 20.57 22  10 3  243.29 kN
C 312.5
n=   7.03 bolts
Fbolt 44.476
Use 8 bolts, 2 bolts  2 rows  2 flanges

Tension member
T = 187.5 kN
W12  53: b f  253.87 mm; t f  14.61 mm
a. Shear
Fv  117 MPa
π
Fbolts  117  222 103  44.473 kN
4
b. Bearing
Fbolts  1.2448 14.6122   10 3  172.80 kN
187.5
n  4.2158 bolts
44.476
 Use 8 bolts

10
Combined Stresses

Tension and shear Commented [SDP17]: For a connection like this. When
12 mm A-36 Initial bolt tension force P is transferred to the center of the bolt group, the force
there will have a vertical component (Shear) and a horizontal
“Turn of the nut” method component (Tension). This two forces will interact.
- from “snug-fit”
- additional turns from the AISC table This is only true for Combined Tension and Shear.
For when it is Compression and Shear, the forces will be
T
 bolt diameter transmitted from plate to plate.
 bolt length
P  bolt type (A-325, A-490) The tension force, in general, will decrease the shear
capacity, vice versa.
V
P
The code has different treatment for Bearing Type and Slip
type.

11
BEARING TYPE CONNECTIONS
Commented [SDP18]: The available tensile strength is
your F’nt(Area of bolt)

fv = actual shear stress

Actual shear stress = shear force / total shear area

Total Shear Area = Area of the bolt x No of Bolt x No of
Shear Planes

For LRFD, your shear force Vu will be factored

For ASD, your shear force V will be unfactored.

12
SLIP-CRITICAL TYPE CONNECTIONS

Commented [SDP19]: Remember that it’s the

compression force that’s preventing the planes from sliding,
but when you have a present tension force on the connection,
thus your compression force pressing the plates together will
be lessened, so much so that when your tension force
overcomes your bolt pretension force, the contact of the
plates with each other becomes negligible, thus this
separation and the presence of shear force in the connection,
there is ultimately none preventing the plates from sliding.

For slip type, your concern is how to prevent sliding, thus the
shear failure side of the two additional failures. Unlike in the
bearing type where the tension capacity is affected.

Clamping force – prevents connection from sliding.

Shear capacity for slip critical connection will be multiplied

by ks.

Whatever the Shear capacity earlier, you multiply by ks.

If P = 800 kN, determine the number of 25 mm Ø, A-325 X bolts.

T = 640 kN
V = 480 kN
Assume n = 4(2) = 8 bolts
(n = 6 bolts)

Ft  3032  2.15fv2
f v  actual shear stress
V 480 103 N
   122.23 MPa(162.97 MPa)
A b 8  π 252 mm 2
4
Ft  244.31 MPa(186.29 MPa)
640 103
ft   162.97 MPa  Ft (Ok!)
π
8  25
2

4
(217.29 MPa  Ft Fail)

13
Use 25 mm Ø, A-490 F bolts (Oversized)
Try n = 12 bolts (n = 10 bolts)
T = 640 kN, V = 480 kN

Fv = 124 MPa

f t  actual tensile stress

T 640 103
   108.65 MPa
nA b 12  π 252
4

Tb  bolt pretension (Table 510  12)

 284 kN
 T   T   640 
Fv '  Fv 1  1   Fv 1    1241    100.71 MPa (96.056 MPa)
 Tb   nTb   12284 
480  10 3
fv   81.487 MPa  Fv (OK!)
π
12  25
2

4
(97.785 MPa > Fv [Fail])

14
Block Shear Failure
Anv = net width(thickness)
Ant = net width(thickness)
15
Commented [SDP20]: The block shear strength formula is
Rn, whichever is smaller.
The first equation is the fracture failure in shear, and the
second is the yielding failure in shear, and the tensile failure
in the block.
Anv = net area for shear, the net width is the width in
between the holes multiplied by the thickness.
0.6Fu = you only get 60% of the ultimate tensile strength and
that’s your ultimate shear stress.
Ant = netwidth(thickness)
Ubs = either 0.5 or 1. If the stress distribution is uniform is,
Ubs is 1. If the stress is linear/triangular, then Ubs is 0.5.
Fv = yielding, when you use yielding, you always use the
gross shear area, which means you include the hole
diameters.
Commented [SDP21]: This is a cope beam, a portion of
the top flange is removed. This type of connection is
normally found in the a floor slab system, a girder-stringer-
slab connection. The stringer is coped to compromise with
the girder as the stringer and girder must be at the same
lever, and since at the connection of the stringer and girder,
you have a simple support, which means you don’t have a
moment there, you don’t need a moment capacity, thus
allowing you to cut the top flange without sacrificing the
structural capacity of the stringer. The connection between
the stringers and girders are in the webs, and thus only shear
is transferred, this is an example of a hinge support. The
primary purpose of the webs is for shear, and the flange is
for moment.
Say you have a downward load at the stringer, and an
upward shear at the plate connection. Your stresses, fv, are
found in the holes segment and at the bottom of that, at the
plate you stresses are in tension, ft. ft is equal to the tension
reaction. Thus when your connection fails, the entire block
gets left connected to the main and thus the name block shear
failure.
 Commented [SDP22]: For this type of connection, your
stresses are uniform.
But when your bolt row is more than 1, then the stress
distribution varies linearly, thus your Ubs = 0.5

Usually seen in splicing, web plates provided for the flanges

and the webs.

16
 wL
V  400 kN
2
Double shear Block
Based on shear 19
nFbolt = nAb 2Fv  mm
Ø A-
π
400  19   n  2207   10  3
2 Double shear
4
n  3.4 say 4 bolts
V  200
2

(70) (65)
70 25 Av

30 (40) > 1.5db


60 (70) > 3db
A-50 
60 (70)

60 (70)

L 100  100  6 30(40)
(L 125  125  6)
At
 22.2  
A v   30    360  22.2  6  793.8 mm
2

  2  
 22.2 
A t   25    6  83.4 mm
2

 2 
Cap  0.3Fu A v  0.5Fu A t
 0.3448793.8  0.544883.4 10 3 w = 80
Coped
 125.37 kN  200 (Fail!) stringer
kN

 22.2  
A v   40    370  22.2  6  1033.8 mm
2

2   
   

 22.2 
A t   65    6  323.4 mm
2

 2  Clip
angles Stringe
Cap  0.3Fu A v  0.5Fu A t Girder
r
 0.34481033.8  0.5448323.410 3 L = 10
m
 211 kN  200 (OK!)
V

17
BOLT TENSION

Hangers Commented [SDP23]: Given you have a tension force

applied, the tension force will be transmitted to your bolts
and then your bolts will be in pure tension. This is for
30 bearing type connections, since you have no clamping force,
and slip critical is for sliding, caused by shear force, but here
you don’t have shear forces.
178.82
9 bolts 9 bolts

19 mm Ø A-325N
WT 12  31

Pu = 500

Prying Action (Lever action) Commented [SDP24]: The problem begins when you
bf have a very flexible flange you get a prying action. For very
rigid flanges you won’t have a prying action.
N T T N
When the prying action occurs, your bolt not only resists the
  tension force applied but also the downward normal force
  caused by the deformation of the flanges.

 
 
 
 
X1 X2
M  0  

P
2
X1  X 2   TX 2 P
178.82
X1   30  59.41 mm
2
X 2  30 mm

T
P(X 1  X 2 ) 500


178.82 
2  745.16 kN
2X 2 230 
Ft  303 MPa
Fbolt  0.75 * Fnt A b
745.16  10 3
n  5.65 bolts  2
π
0.75x620  19 
2

4
Use n  6 bolts  2

18
Eccentric Bolted Connections (VECTOR ANALYSIS)
350 P P

70 70
T = P e Commented [SDP25]: This is an example of bolt group.
P = 100 kN
When you have force P then your Torque is P times the
eccentricity(e) or the lever arm from the center of the bolt

 
e group.
A-325X
  P
T = P(e)

If you have an inclined force then you have 3 components of

force, a Px, Py, T. You transfer the force P to the center of
the bolt group, does the need to find the Torque also.
 
Bracket
Py
fy' P P When you transfer the force P you create a couple to return

Tp fb
critical n
h h the system to its original state.

τ P P
J h h Commented [SDP26]: Divide the Py by the number of
bolts to get the individual force y per bolt (pero sabi ni sir sa
J   ρ 2dA   ρ 2 A b
fb
+ fb vid times???)
T
 Ab  ρ 2 Commented [SDP27]: Rho = is the lever arm, radial
distance from the center of the bolt group.
 Ab  r2 fb fby Ab = area of the bolt but since your bold diameter, area of
the bolt is common.
Tr fb
f b  τA b 
 r2 fby fbx
Commented [SDP28]: Shear stress(Ab) = Force in the
bolt.
Ty Ab cancels out.
center of rotation r
f x "  f b cosθ  fb can be further divided into its components.
 r2 fb θ y fx” is the x component, the force multiplied by it’s
perpendicular distance from x axis of the center of the bolt
Tx x group, fy” is for the y component.
f y "  f b sinθ 
 r2 θ
fbx Torque = kN-m
P Py T  Px e y  Py e x Rho = m
critical R2 = m2
Px Thus fx” and fy” = kN
Px fx ' 
n
Py
 ey
 fx’ fy '
n
f’ y

   fx "
Ty
e x
 r2
  T
Tx
fy"
 r2
f x  f x ' f x "
f y  f y 'f y "
f  f x2  f y2

19
 y
n  4 bolts critical Commented [SDP29]: In the exam, when you’re given a
J   r 2   x 2  y 2  bolt group under an eccentric connection.

 
Identify the bolt which has the highest bolt force, once you
  2
 
 2 70 2   70   4 752 75
get the highest bolt force, you compare it with the single bolt
capacity. This is a critical part.
x
 42100 mm 2

 
75
Redraw example from vid.
Px  0, Py  100 kN
T  Pe  100350  35000 kN  m
70 70 The torque of the connection is opposite in direction of the
force in the bolt for equilibrium.

The force is proportional to the lever arm, the further the

fx '  0 bolt, the more stressed it is.
100 Commented [SDP30]: Use this for polar moment of
fy '  25 kN inertia.
4
3500075
fx "  62.352 kN
42100
3500070
fy"  58.195 kN
42100
f  0  62.3522  25  58.1952  103.97 kN
f
σ bolt   Fv ; Fv  414 / 2  207 MPa
Ab
f 103.97  103
 Req' d A b    502.27 mm 2
Fv 207

4
Req' d d b  502.27  25.29 mm
π
Use 28 mm Ø bolts

20
ULTIMATE STRENGTH DESIGN Commented [SDP31]: For grad school.

21
22
S.I. Formulas:

R = Rult ( 1 - e - 0.394)0.55

Rult = 329 kN
Rult = Rn = 0.75*n*Ab

max = 8.64 mm

i = (li/lmax) max

M = 0

F = 0

Iteration Procedure:

1) Assume xo
2) xi, yi, and li
3) i
4) Ri
5) F = 0 (in terms of P)
6) M = 0 (in terms of P)

23
24