Prepared and Presented by

Akram M.
Megdad
Sr. Mech. Inspector
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints

When Steel Structure Bolting has been designed,

manufactured, installed and inspected according
to Codes and specified Procedures, this will
ensure structural integrity.

But when any of these tasks fail to meet the job

requirements, disaster could happen including
the loss of human lives.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints

1981 two suspended

walkways within the atrium
of the Kansas City Hyatt
Regency Hotel collapsed,
resulting in the death of 114
people
The collapse was caused by
failure of the connections
between the hanger rods and
the main-carrying box beams
of the walkways.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints

In this presentation I will discuss the

following topics.
High Strength Steel Bolts
How Bolts Work
Bolt Failures
Bolt Inspection
Conclusion
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints

Threaded fasteners are classified by shape, material and

finish, which are specified by industry standards. In the
United States, the American Society for Testing Materials
(ASTM) sets the standards. In Europe, the International
Standards Organization (ISO) sets the standards.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints

Steel structural bolts are

heavy hexagon head
bolts having a controlled
thread length intended
for use in steel structural
connection assemblies
such as:
Buildings
Bridges
Pipe Racks
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
How Bolts Work
To keep steel structure
connection joints together,
high Applied force must be
exerted on the joints, that is Force
If connection joint needed
8,000 pounds of force to hold
two plates together, any
force applied to the plates
that is less than 8,000 pounds
would not be enough to
separate the plates.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
How Bolts Work

It is often helpful to think of the bolt as

a spring. It may seem odd to think of
steel structure as being held together by
a bunch of springs, but this analogy
works to show what happens when a
bolt is tightened.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
How Bolts Work
Mathematically
The clamping force Fc is
the difference between
the preload force Fp and
the tension force Ft on
the joint. The clamping
force is what holds the
parts together. This
translates
mathematically to:
Fc = Fp - Ft
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolt Pre-Load
When a bolt is tightened, both
tension and torsional stress is
established within the bolt.
This establishes a PRE-LOAD
(clamping force) that is
developed and applied to
structural bolt connection
assembly.

PRE-LOADis the technical term for the tension caused

by tightening the fastener that holds the assembled
parts together.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Strengths of Bolts

The bolt material strength is specified by

the its "grade.“

For example : A grade 8 bolt is stronger

than a grade 5, which is stronger than a
grade 2. The grade is indicated by a
series of marks on the bolt’s head
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Strengths of Bolts

One important consideration for steel structure

a bolt is its Strength and is determined by:

I. The alloy (example: cold working)

II. Processing method (example: heat

treating)
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Strength of Bolts
Looking at the stress strain curve
Yield Strength
Tensile Strength
is the stress level
sometimes where
called the the material
ultimate
yields or permanently
strength, deforms.
is the stress level where the material
breaks
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolted connections
Bolted joints are widely used in all types of
steel structural connections, designed to
operate under the expected loads without
exceeding the yield stress of the material.
Bolted joints offer many advantages over
welded joints such as maintainability.
However they are costly in that frequently
additional parts are needed (washer, nut)
compared to riveted or welded joints and they
require more skill & effort to assemble.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolted connections

Joints required to resist shear between

their connected parts are designated as
either

Bearing-Type Connections

Friction-Type Connections
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolted connections

Bearing Type Connection: In this joint, the

load is transferred from the steel into the
bolt by bearing against the shank of the
bolt, carried through the bolt by shear,
then into the next layer of steel by bearing
of the bolt against the side of the bolt
hole.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints

Friction Type Connected are defined as joints

which slip would be detrimental to the
serviceability of the structure. They include::
1. Joints subjected to fatigue loading.
2. Joints with bolts installed in oversized holes.
3. Joints with bolts installed in slotted holes.
4. Joints subject to significant load reversal.
5. Joints in which welds and bolts share in
transmitting load at a common faying surface.
6. Joints in which the engineer designated on
the contract plan and specifications.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolts Installation

Bolts in connections not within the slip-

critical category nor subject to tension loads
nor required to be fully tensioned bearing
type connections shall be installed in
properly aligned holes, but need only be
tightened to the Snug Tight Condition.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints

Snug Tied Condition

The "snug tight condition" is defined as "the
tightness attained by either a few hits of an
impact wrench or the full effort of a worker with
an ordinary spud wrench that brings the
connected plies into firm contact" by the most
recentAISC LRFD Specification (Dec.
1, 1993), Section J3.1.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolts Installation

In Slip-Critical Connections,
subject to direct tension, and fully pre-
tensioned bearing connections fasteners,
together with washers of size and quality
specified, shall be installed in properly
aligned holes and tightened to provided at
least the minimum tension shown in table 4,
section 8 (AISC ninth edition). By
one of the following methods
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints

Turn of the nut method

When Turn of the nut method used, a representative
sample of not less than three bolts and nuts of each
diameter, length and grade to be used shall be
checked at the start of work in a device capable of
indicating bolt tension not less than five percent
greater than tension required.
Following this initial operation all bolts in the
connection shall be tightened further by the
applicable amount of rotation specified in table 5 of
(AISC section 8, ninth edition)
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolt Installation
Direct tension indicator
Tightening of bolts using direct tension indicator
is permitted provided the suitability of the device
can be demonstrated by testing bolts sample
table 5 of (AISC section 8, ninth edition)
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolt Installation
Calibrated wrench tightening
Calibration wrench tightening may be used only when
the installation procedures are calibrated on a daily basis.
When this procedure is used, it shall be set to provide
tension not less than 5% in excess of the minimum
tension specified in table 4 of (AISC section 8, ninth
edition). It shall be verified during actual installation in
the assembled steel work that the wrench adjustment
selected by the calibration does not produce a nut or bolt
head rotation from snug tight greater than that permitted
in table 5 of (AISC section 8, ninth edition). If manual
torque wrenches are used, nut shall be turned in the
tightening direction when torque is measured.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Inspector Responsibility
In progress work
Inspector should :
1. Determine the job requirement.
2. Inspect the material (bolts, washers, nuts …etc.)
3. Observe the calibration procedure.
4. Verify equipment calibration documents.
5. Monitor bolt installation.
6. Select a procedure properly use to tighten all
bolts.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Inspector Responsibility
Arbitration Inspection:
When high strength bolts in slip-critical connection
and connection subject to direct tension have been
installed, the following arbitration procedures may
be used.

5. Bolts in the structure shall be 10% randomly

1. The
2.
3.
4. This
Tightening
Theinspecting
inspector
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beyond
shall
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then
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be
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must tochecked,
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bolts selected at random in each
tightened
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greater
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orinspecting
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head torque shall be
by the application of the job inspecting torque, all the
(approximately
taken as the 1average
inch atthree
12 inch value.
radius).
bolts in the connection shall be rejected (then all the
rejected bolts shall be tightened and reinspected).
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Inspector Responsibility
Delayed verification Inspection:
If verification of bolt tension is required after a
passage of a period of time and exposure of the
completed joint, the arbitration inspection will
provide indication of bolt tension which is of
questionable accuracy. Procedures appropriate
to the specific situation should be used for
verification of bolt tension (this might involve
use of the arbitration procedure or might
require the development and sue of alternative
procedures.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolt Failure

When a threaded
fastener can not
sustain the expected
loading and becomes
detached, a
significant failure In
structural connection
may occur.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolt Failure
Examples of bolt failures that have been involved in
serious losses.

Metal Fatigue

Improper Design

Failure as a result of an overload

Failure from improper torque

 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolt Failure

Metal Fatigue
Metal fatigue is the phenomenon
characterized by progressive
crack growth during cyclic
loading. A crack is often initiated
at a flaw or stress riser (sharp
notch) in a part. repeated impact
cause the crack to increase in size
until the part can no longer
sustain the load, and a final
fracture occurs.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolt Failure

Improper Design

Wear on the bolt

threads is the
result of bolt
movement due to
insufficient
clamping force.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolt Failure

Failure as a result of an overload

This is a view of a bolt that
fractured in the threaded area.
The 45 degree full-slant fracture
surface indicates high tensile
loads. The fine, gray
appearance of the fracture
surface is consistent with
a sudden overload instantaneous failure.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
Bolt Failure

Failure from improper torque

When threaded fasteners are

utilized, the amount of tightening
or bolt torque is often important..
The appropriate torque is
required in order to prevent
relative flexing of the two parts
being fastened and to assure an
acceptable mechanical
connection.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
CONCLUSION
( SAEP 1150)
Inspection department responsibility on capital
projects is to provide the Company with an
independent Quality Assurance assessment function
that assures compliance with the Company’s
Engineering requirements, and provide specialized
inspection and Non Destructive Testing Services that
assures optimum economic quality is maintained
throughout the life cycle of the Company’s facilities to
minimize losses due to unscheduled events and to
maximize Company profitability.
 Structural Steel Bolted Joints
CONCLUSION

And this task can be a accomplish by

Knowledge
Team Work
&
Determination
Structural Steel Bolted Joints

Prepared and Presented

Akram M. Megdad

BAPIU