Lecture 12 Bolted Connections

Below is a typical bolt and the terms given to the parts of a bolt:

Bolts used in structural steel fasteners fall within 2 categories see AISC Table 2-5 p. 2-41: 1) Carbon steel bolts These bolts achieve their total strength from shear (or tension) strength across the diameter of the bolt. They are relatively low-strength and are used primarily for low-load applications such as for anchor rods. The typical carbon steel bolt used in structural steel buildings is ASTM A307 and F1554 for use in anchor rods. 2) High-strength bolts These bolts are used for high-load connections and obtain their total strength from the shear strength across the diameter of the bolt PLUS the friction developed between the nut and joined steel surfaces. In order to achieve the friction capacity, these bolts are tensioned to 70% of the ultimate tensile strength of the material according to the table below. ASTM A325 and A490 bolts are typically used. The LRFD references the design of bolted connections in the following: AISC Spec. Chapter J3 (p. 16.1-102) AISC Part 7 AISC Part 9 AISC Part 10

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Possible Bolted Shear Failure Mechanisms: There are 4 basic types of failure mechanisms for bolted connections under shear: 1) Bolt Shear: This is probably the most obvious failure mode. It occurs when the applied load exceeds the shear capacity through the bolt. The design shear strength is dictated in AISC Table J3.2 p. 16.1-104 and AISC Table 7-1 p. 7-22. Possible remedies include using a larger diameter bolt, higher grade of bolt or more bolts.

Result

Bolt shear failure

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2) Edge Tear-Out: This occurs when the bolt is located too close to the edge of the plate in the direction of load. A minimum required edge distance, Le, is dictated in AISC Table J3.4 p. 16.1-107. Possible remedies include increasing the edge distance or reducing the bolt diameter.

Le

Edge Distance failure

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3) Bearing Failure: This type of failure occurs when one of the plates is too thin or not strong enough for the applied loads. The design bearing strength at bolt holes is dictated in AISC p. 16.1-111 and AISC Table 7-5 p. 7-28 and AISC Table 7-6 p. 7-30. Possible remedies increasing the plate thickness, use a higher grade of steel or using larger diameter bolts.

Thin plate

Bearing failure

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4) Net Section Failure: A net section failure occurs when there are too many bolt holes perpendicular to the line of action resulting in too little material to carry the load. Think of Swiss cheese. The minimum spacing of bolts is dictated in AISC J3.2 p. 16.1-106 as not less than 2 times the nominal bolt diameter, preferably 3 times the bolt diameter. Usually 3 is used as the nominal bolt spacing for bolts < 1 in diameter.

Net section failure

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Types of Bolted Connections 1) Bearing-Type Connections: A bearing-type connection is the most common type of bolted connection. It is used in most simple-shear connections and in situations when loosening or fatigue due to vibration or load fluctuations are NOT design considerations. In these connections, bolts are tightened to the snug-tight condition, as defined as the tightness attained by a few impacts of an impact wrench or the full effort of an iron worker using an ordinary spud wrench. The design strength of bearing-type fasteners is per AISC Eq. J3-1 p. 16.1-108. 2) Slip-Critical Connections: A slip-critical connection is one in which loosening due to vibration or load reversals are to be considered. Also, holes that are oversize or slotted shall be designed as slip-critical connections. Bolts that are used in slip-critical connections must be pre-tensioned per AISC Table J3.1 p. 16.1-103. In addition, the design strength of the connection must be checked in accordance with AISC J3.8, J3.9 and J3.10 p. 16.1-109 thru 111. As an alternative, AISC Table 7-3 and 7-4 p. 7-24 thru 27 can be used.

See AISC Table J3.3 p. 16.1-105 for hole dimensions

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Design Strength of Bearing-Type Fasteners From AISC J3.6 p. 16.1-108, the design tension or shear strength of a high-strength bolt or threaded part is: Design strength of bolt = Rn LRFD Allowable strength of bolt = where: Rn = FnAb = 0.75 LRFD = 2.00 ASD Fn = nominal tensile or shear stress of fastener, KSI = from Table J3.2 p. 16.1-104 Ab = x-sect. nominal area of unthreaded body of bolt, in2 Shear Plane: The shear plane is the plane in which the various connected parts are in contact.
Rn ASD

Threads Not excluded from shear plane N Threads eXcluded from shear plane X

Single-shear

Double-shear

Load

Load

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Example 1 (LRFD) GIVEN: A diameter ASTM A325-N bolt in single-shear is subjected to a factored load of 14 KIPS. REQUIRED: Determine the design shear strength of the bolt considering bolt shear ONLY, and comment if the bolt is acceptable.

dia. A325-N bolt

Pu = 14 KIPS Step 1 Determine design shear strength of bolt: Design shear strength = Rn where: = 0.75 Rn = nominal shear strength of fastener = FnAb Fn = from Table J3.2 p. 16.1-104 = 48 KSI (threads Not excluded) Ab = nominal area of unthreaded body of bolt, in2 =

D2

(0.75" ) 2

= 0.44 in2 Design shear strength = (0.75)(48 KSI)(0.44 in2) Design shear strength = 15.8 KIPS > 14 KIPS Acceptable

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Example 2 (LRFD) GIVEN: Same as Example 1 REQUIRED: Determine bolt design shear using AISC Table 7-1 p. 7-22. Step 1 Refer to Table 7-1: ASTM A325 Thread condition = N Design shear strength = 15.9 KIPS Loading = S (Single shear) Bolt Diameter, db =

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