a brief review of Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures Part 1-8: Design of joints

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Basis of design 3 Connections made with bolts, rivets or pins 3.1 Bolts, nuts and washers 3.2 Rivets 3.3 Anchor bolts 3.4 Categories of bolted connections 3.5 Positioning of holes for bolts and rivets 3.6 Design resistance of individual fasteners 3.7 Group of fasteners 3.8 Long joints 3.9 Slip-resistant connections using 8.8 or 10.9 bolts 3.10 Deductions for fastener holes 3.11 Prying forces 3.12 Distribution of forces between fasteners at the ultimate limit state 3.13 Connections made with pins

static theorem of plastic analysis

hypotheses - ductile material (unlimited plasticity) - no buckling any distribution of the internal forces and stresses which: a) is in equilibrium b) fulfils the resistance criterion of the material provides a value of the structural failure load which is not greater than the real failure load different equilibrated load distributions may be adopted in the computations the acutal ductility is not unlimited what is the weak link? (the bolt or the plate) a realistic force distribution involves less plastic re-arrangements at collapse

2.5 Design assumptions

Joints should be designed on the basis of a realistic assumption of the distribution of internal forces and moments. The following assumptions should be used to determine the distribution of forces: (a) the internal forces and moments assumed in the analysis are in equilibrium with the forces and moments applied to the joints, (b) each element in the joint is capable of resisting the internal forces and moments, (c) the deformations implied by this distribution do not exceed the deformation capacity of the fasteners or welds and the connected parts, (d) the assumed distribution of internal forces should be realistic with regard to relative stiffnesses within the joint (e) the deformations assumed in the design model are based on rigid body rotations and/or in-plane deformations which are physically possible (f) any model used is in compliance with the evaluation of test results (see EN 1990).

1.25

1.25

high strength
they are required for controlled tightening (preloaded bolts)

shear strength tensile strength / 2 it is actually a shear-bending failure

being the geometry of bolts standardized, the maximum forces and the tightening torques can be collected in tables

3.4 Categories of bolted connections

3.4.1 Shear connections Bolted connections loaded in shear should be designed as one of the following: Category A: Bearing type In this category bolts from class 4.6 up to and including class 10.9 should be used No preloading and special provisions for contact surfaces are required. The design ultimate shear load should not exceed the design shear resistance, obtained from 3.6, nor the design bearing resistance, obtained from 3.6 and 3.7. 3.6 Design resistance of individual fasteners 3.7 Group of fasteners

shear plane: through the threaded or unthreaded portion of the bolt the resistant area is the tensile area As or the gross area A respectively the ultimate shear stress is about 50% the ultimate strength in tension

direction of force

the material strength is referred to the plates grade d indicates who is the weakest link among: the bolt (compressed) the plate close to the hole (compressed) the global failure of the plate (tension/shear) k1 accounts for the material confinement

direction of force

minimum distances to prevent a strength reduction because of ad and k1

block tearing

x 0.5
for eccentric loading

shear resistance different material safety factors

3.4 Categories of bolted connections

3.4.1 Shear connections Category B: Slip-resistant at serviceability limit state In this category preloaded bolts in accordance with 3.1.2(1) should be used. Slip should not occur at the serviceability limit state. The design serviceability shear load should not exceed the design slip resistance, obtained from 3.9. The design ultimate shear load should not exceed the design shear resistance, obtained from 3.6, nor the design bearing resistance, obtained from 3.6 and 3.7.

n = number of friction surfaces = slip factor ks accounts for the shape of the hole controlled tightening force of high-strength bolts

shape of the hole

0.45 prepared and assembled in the workshop 0.30 assembled on construction site
1.2.7 Reference Standard, Group 7: Execution of steel structures EN 1090-2 Requirements for the execution of steel structures

slip force vs shear resistance of the bolt

v = 0.5 A = As for shear through the threads M2 = 1.25

ks = 1.0 n=1 = 0.4 Fp,C = 0.7 fub As M3 = 1.25

deleting the common parts (As, fub, M) it turns out

Fs,Rd / Fv, Rd = 0.4 0.7 / 0.5 = 0.56 the ultimate shear strength of bolts is much higher than the friction.
Designing for the slip resistance under service load is more severe than designing for shear strength under the ultimate loads (provided that the shear collapse is not governed by the bearing resistance)

3.4 Categories of bolted connections

3.4.1 Shear connections Category C: Slip-resistant at ultimate limit state In this category preloaded bolts in accordance with 3.1.2(1) should be used. Slip should not occur at the ultimate limit state. The design ultimate shear load should not exceed the design slip resistance, obtained from 3.9, nor the design bearing resistance, obtained from 3.6 and 3.7. In addition for a connection in tension, the design plastic resistance of the net cross-section at bolt holes Nnet,Rd, (see 6.2 of EN 1993-1-1), should be checked, at the ultimate limit state.

the preloading doesn't affect the ultimate strength...

the possible eccentricity between the centroidal and setting out lines

the joints and members should be designed for the resulting moments and forces

welded connections 2 main types for load bearing connections: fillet welds and butt welds

fillet welds

simplified design of fillet welds (loaded only // to the welding)

the maximum stress in fillet welds according to the old Italian recommendation CNR 10011 a trimmed sphere
//

Full penetration butt welds

The design resistance of a full penetration butt weld should be taken as equal to the design resistance of the weaker of the parts connected, provided that the weld is made with a suitable consumable which will produce all-weld tensile specimens having both a minimum yield strength and a minimum tensile strength not less than those specified for the parent metal

Partial penetration butt welds

The design resistance of a partial penetration butt weld should be determined using the method for a deep penetration fillet weld.