NSCNov03 AD268

ADVISORY DESK
The aim of this feature is to share up-dates, design tips and answers to queries. The Steel Construction Institute
provides items which, it is hoped, will prove useful to the industry.
AD 268
Bolt Lengths Table 3,
BS 5950-2: 2001
Following the publication of AD 263
concerning the limitations of bolt grades in
BS 5950-1 and Eurocode 3, we have received
several questions regarding Clause 4.3.1 and
Table 3 to BS 5950-2: 2001. This Advisory
Desk note addresses questions about two
issues. The first is the length of the bolt
protrusion beyond the nut and the second is
the number of threads in the stressed length.
Figure 1 gives the definition of various lengths
referred to in this AD.
Bolt protrusion
The first line of Clause 4.3.1 states All bolt
shanks shall protrude beyond the end of the
nut by at least one thread pitch after
tightening. This is a simple and enforceable
rule for all bolts which is relatively easy to
check even on site. It results in full thread
engagement between the nut and shank,
thereby ensuring that any tension in the shank
is transferred to the nut. The minimum
theoretical bolt length should be calculated on
this basis, allowing for the thickness of the
nut, washer, grip and bolt protrusion.
The note under the first sentence adds the
advice that a bolt length calculated with at
least one further full thread pitch in addition
to the theoretical length required will normally
ensure adequate allowance for tolerances.
The grip length (the sum of the ply thickness)
can vary due to the rolling tolerances of the
plies and paint thickness, and the bolt also has
manufacturing tolerances; however one
additional full thread pitch on top of the
theoretical bolt length will usually suffice.
This is the same as the old rule of thumb in
steelwork that a bolt should have two full
threads beyond the nut, one for thread
engagement and one for tolerances. However,
the designer should give further consideration
to particular cases where greater than normal
tolerances need to be accommodated. One
example is where the paint coatings are
unexpectedly thick. Another is where
galvanizing is also unexpectedly thick on the
faces of the plies, as can occur with Silicon
rich steel.
ductile the bolt, as can be seen from the

minimum ductility requirements for bolts
materials given in Table 3, EN ISO 898-1: 1999.
In addition, the length of the threaded portion
in the stressed length has been shown to
influence considerably the ductility of the bolt
(fig. 1). Table 3, BS 5950-2: 2001 reflects this by
specifying longer threaded portions in the
stressed length for higher grade bolts and
higher tension loads: in other words, the
minimum threaded portions in Table 3 are the
means to ensure that bolts have sufficient
ductility to be used safely in normal structural
connections. Fully threaded bolts have greater
ductility than short threaded ones and are
preferable where maximum ductility of
connections is required.
It can be seen that no provision has been made
for Grade 12.9 and 14.9 bolts in Table 3,
BS 5950-2: 2001. They are considered to have
insufficient ductility to be used safely in
Table 3 gives minimum lengths (in addition to

the thread run-out) of the threaded portion in
the stressed length, b in Fig. 1, in terms of a
number of thread pitches, for the various bolt
grades and loading conditions. The reason for
this requirement is related to ductility.
In general, the higher the bolt grade the less
Contact: Thomas Cosgrove

Email: t.cosgrove@steel-sci.com
Table 3 from BS 5950-2: 2001 reproduced with the
permission of the British Standards Institution licence
number 2003SK/118. BSI publications can be obtained
from BSI Customer Services, 389 Chiswick High Road,
London W4 4AL. United Kingdom. (Tel + 44 (0) 20 8996
9001). Email: cservices@bsi-global.com
Fig. 1. Tensile behaviour of bolts.
Grade 4.6
Grade 8.8a
Grade 10.9b
Non-preloaded in shear only
Non-preloaded otherwise
Preloaded
Type of bolts
Threads under the nut
normal structural connections, as explained in

AD 263.
When specifying large diameter high-grade
bolts in conjunction with short grip lengths,
the designer should be careful because the
minimum threaded portion required may
exceed the grip length. Hence it is a good rule
of thumb to maintain a minimum ply
thickness in a joint greater than or equal to
half the nominal bolt diameter used in the
connection, where possible.
Including general grade bolts to BS 4395-1

Including higher grade bolts to BS 4395-2
Fig. 2. BS 5950-2: 2001 Table 3 Clear Threads
Nominal bolt diameter
M12 M16 M20 M22 M24 M27 M30 M33 M36
Pitch (mm)
1.75 2.00 2.50 2.50 3.00 3.00 3.50 3.50 4.00
Fig. 3. The coarse pitch of screw threads for the normal range of ISO metric structural bolts.

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ADVISORY DESK

ductile the bolt, as can be seen from the

Table 3 gives minimum lengths (in addition to

Contact: Thomas Cosgrove

Fig. 1. Tensile behaviour of bolts.

Non-preloaded in shear only

Threads under the nut

normal structural connections, as explained in

Including general grade bolts to BS 4395-1

Fig. 2. BS 5950-2: 2001 Table 3 Clear Threads

Nominal bolt diameter

M12 M16 M20 M22 M24 M27 M30 M33 M36

1.75 2.00 2.50 2.50 3.00 3.00 3.50 3.50 4.00

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