School of CEGE

Simple Connections

Presented by

Dr. Gilford B. Estores

 Bolted & Welded Connections

Modern steel structures are connected by welding or bolting (either high-strength or “common”
bolts) or by a combination of both. Until fairly recently, connections were either welded or
riveted. However, riveted connection design is no longer covered by the AISC Specification,
but many existing structures contain riveted joints, and the analysis of these connections is
required for the strength evaluation and rehabilitation of older structures.

Welding has several advantages over bolting. A welded connection is often simpler in concept
and requires few, if any, holes (sometimes erection bolts may be required to hold the
members in position for the welding operation). Connections that are extremely complex with
fasteners can become very simple when welds are used.

1
Bolted & Welded Connections

2
 Bolted Shear Connections

FAILURE MODES
There are two broad categories of failure: failure of the fastener and failure of the parts being
connected. Consider the lap joint shown in Figure 7.4a. Failure of the fastener can be
assumed to occur as shown. The average shearing stress in this case will be

3
 Bolted Connections
Other modes of failure in shear connections involve failure of the parts being connected
and fall into two general categories.
1. Failure resulting from excessive tension, shear, or bending in the parts being connected. If a
tension member is being connected, tension on both the gross area and effective net area must
be investigated. Block shear must also be examined in beam-to-column connections in which the
top flange of the beam is coped.
2. Failure of the connected part because of bearing exerted by the fasteners. If the hole is
slightly larger than the fastener and the fastener is assumed to be placed loosely in the hole,
contact between the fastener and the connected part will exist over approximately half the
circumference of the fastener when a load is applied. This condition is illustrated in Figure 7.5.
The stress will vary from a maximum at A to zero at B. The bearing load is therefore P = fp d t.

4
BEARING STRENGTH, SPACING, AND EDGE-
DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

5
 BEARING STRENGTH, SPACING, AND EDGE-
DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS
To prevent excessive elongation of the hole, an upper limit is placed on the bearing load given
by Equation 7.1. This upper limit is proportional to the projected bearing area times the
fracture stress, or

6
use a hole diameter of

7
BEARING STRENGTH, SPACING, AND EDGE-
DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

8
BEARING STRENGTH, SPACING, AND EDGE-
DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

9
BEARING STRENGTH, SPACING, AND EDGE-
DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

10
 BEARING STRENGTH, SPACING, AND
EDGE-DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS
Example: Check bolt spacing, edge distances, and bearing for the connection shown in
Figure 7.10.

SOLUTION:

12
BEARING STRENGTH, SPACING, AND
EDGE-DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

13
BEARING STRENGTH, SPACING, AND
EDGE-DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

14
14
 Shear Strength

SHEAR STRENGTH

15
If the threads are in the plane of shear, the reduction of the bolt area is accounted for by
using 80% of the nominal bolt area. Instead of applying this reduction directly to the bolt
area, a factor of 0.80 is applied to Fnv. In this way, the nominal bolt area can be used
whether the threads are in or out of the plane of shear.

For example, the ultimate tensile strength of a Group A bolt is 120 ksi, so the nominal
shear strength with the threads not in the shear plane is

Fnv = 120(0.625)(0.90) = 67.5 ksi

If the threads are in the shear plane,

Fnv = 0.8(67.5) = 54 ksi

16
Example:
Determine the strength of the connection shown in Figure 7.11, based on bearing
and shear, for the following bolts:
a. A307
b. Group A, threads in the plane of shear
c. Group A, threads not in the plane of shear

SOLUTION: Since the edge distances are the same for both the tension member and the gusset
plate, the bearing strength of the gusset plate will control because it is thinner than
the tension member. For bearing strength computation, use a hole diameter of

17
Shear Strength

19
Shear Strength

18
20
Example:

LRFD SOLUTION:

ANSWER:

21
 Shear Strength

ASD SOLUTION:

ANSWER:

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
34
34
34
34
34