Chapter 4 – Bolter Connections (Part 3)

Discussion:
I. Eccentrically Loaded Connections (Brackets)
 When bolts are loaded such that the load is
eccentric to the bolt group in the plane of the
faying surface, there are two analytical
approaches that can be used to determine the
forces in the bolts:
o Instantaneous Center of rotation method
or Ultimate Strength Method
o Elastic Method

II. Instantaneous Center Method / Ultimate Strength Method

 In an eccentrically loaded bolt group, both
translation and rotation are induced in one
connected element relative to another. This
combined deformation effect is equivalent to a
rotation about a point called the instantaneous
center or IC. The location of the IC is a function
of the geometry and the direction and
orientation of the applied load.

Formulas:
 Polar Moment of Inertia (Group of Bolts), J
𝐽 = Σ(𝑥 + 𝑦 )

 Effective Eccentricity, ee
(1 + 𝑛)
𝑒 =𝑒− (25)
2
 Instantaneous Center, ro
𝐽
𝑟 =
𝑒 𝑁
 Moment @ ee, Me
𝑀 = 𝑃𝑒
 Reaction, R
𝑀𝑟
𝑅=
𝐽
III. Elastic Method
 A simplified and conservative approach for eccentrically loaded bolts in shear is called the
elastic method.
 In this method, each bolt is assumed to resist an equal proportion of the applied load, P,
and a portion of the shear induced by the moment, Pe, proportional to its distance from the
centroid of the bolt group.
Formulas:
 Polar Moment of Inertia (Group of Bolts), J
𝐽 = Σ(𝑥 + 𝑦 )
 Moment, M
𝑀 = 𝑃𝑒
 Horizontal Component of reaction due to moment, fx
𝑀𝑐
𝑓 =
𝐽
 Vertical Component of reaction due to moment, fy
𝑀𝑐
𝑓 =
𝐽

 Total reaction of the most stressed bolt, R

𝑃
𝑅= (𝑓 ) + ( + 𝑓 )
𝑛

Example
1. A W 470 mm x 105 kg/m beam of 12 mm web thickness is spliced near the support using 15 mm
thick connector plate welded to part B and bolted using 20 mm ø A 325 bolts to point A.
Dimensions are:
S1 = 40 mm S3 = 80 mm S5 = 40 mm
S2 = 40 mm S4 = 100 mm

Steel strength and allowable stresses are as follows:

Yield stress, Fy = 248 MPa
Bolt shear stress, Fv = 120 MPa

a. Calculate the shear load (kN) on the critical bolt

at section A of the splice if P = 200 kN.
b. Calculate the torsional load (kN) on the critical bolt at section A if P = 200 kN.
c. Calculate the total critical bolt load (kN).
2. In the connection shown, a load P of 40 kN is
transmitted to the rivets by means of plate.
a. Find the maximum rivet load due to effect of
direct load alone.
b. Find the maximum rivet load due to effect of
equivalent moment alone.
c. Find the minimum size of rivet that can be
used if allowable shear stress is 100 MPa.
d. Find the minimum thickness of plate that can
be used if allowable bearing stress is 225
MPa.