Advisory Desk Notes - AD 143: Prying in Bolted Connections

SCI ADVISORY DESK

AD 143: Prying in Bolted Connections

There has been a surge of enquiries on the treatment of prying. This is not a new subject but
interest has been stirred by two publications:

1. Eurocode 3 Annex J, which features an explicit treatment of prying, in contrast to BS

5950 Part 1, which allows for it by providing conservative values for tension strength of
the bolts (Table 32, BS 5950 Part 1), and

2. The new fifth edition of the Steel Designers’ Manual, in which Chapter 25 (Page 696)
recommends that “when it can occur, prying action should always be taken into
account”.

Prying action is a physical possibility. In a typical back-to-back T-connection, such as that

between an endplate and a column flange, there may be bearing contact between the
connected parts somewhere towards their extremities, at which a compressive force (called
the prying force) acts. Equilibrium requires that the bolts resist the prying force, in addition to
the externally applied load.

Thus, prying may increase the tension in the bolts - although there is some compensation; it
reduces the bending moment the plate has to resist.
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The magnitude of the prying force is variable, depending on the relationship between bolt
size/strength, connection dimensions, especially the thickness of the endplate flange, and the
fabrication and fit up.

EC3’s formulae predict a prying force which is anything between zero (for a thick, unyielding
plate) and 40% of the applied tension (for a thin plate which undergoes “double bending”)
i.e. Q varies between 0.0 and 0.4F (see figure).

BS 5950’s drafting panel took the view that designers should be spared all this. An
allowance would be made to cover prying should it occur, and the bolt tension values
modified accordingly. The statement in clause 6.3.6.2 was then made that prying action
need not be taken into account provided the strengths given in Table 32 are used.

This could be considered as unscientific and obscuring the issue, but was generally felt
preferable to making prying compulsory at that time and nominating a formula to be used.

As a consequence, many connections involving bolts in tension with relatively thick endplates
are over-designed. The designer who is prepared to calculate prying can still do so, but the
trouble is that he is left to determine the limit of bolt tension value.

The Steel Designers’ Manual method suggests 0.64 Uf (barely 10% greater than BS 5950’s
0.58 Uf) but it should be remembered that this was drafted before EC3 values had been
finalized, thus the conservatism is understandable.

The SCI/BCSA Connections Group has the issue in its sights and is preparing design guidance
Created on 04 January 2007

which will appear in a new publication entitled Moment Connections Volume 1. The approach
that will be adopted is still under consideration but will involve explicit consideration of
prying, coupled with enhanced bolt tension values.
Advisory Desk Notes - AD 143: Prying in Bolted Connections

SCI ADVISORY DESK

In the meantime, designers are advised that the BS 5950 method can continue to be applied
with confidence. This simple approach will give conservative results for the traditional type of
connection in which the thickness of the endplate is similar to or greater than the diameter of
the bolt, the bolt cross centre dimension (w) is in the range 90 to 120 mm, and the edge
distance comfortably exceeds the dimension between the bolt and the weld (or fillet).

B=F+Q B=F+Q

w
Q Q= prying force

m e min

0.8 x fillet radius or

0.8 x weld size

2F

Figure 1. Prying Forces

This material is copyright - all rights reserved. Use of this document is subject to the terms and conditions of the Steelbiz Licence Agreement
Created on 04 January 2007