CHAPTER 3.

BOLTED AND WELDED CONNECTIONS

3.1 INTRODUCTORY CONCEPTS

 There are different types of bolted connections. They can be categorized based on the type of

loading.

- Tension member connection and splice. It subjects the bolts to forces that tend to shear

the shank.

- Beam end simple connection. It subjects the bolts to forces that tend to shear the shank.

- Hanger connection. The hanger connection puts the bolts in tension

(b) (c)

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 Figure 1

 The bolts are subjected to shear or tension loading.

- In most bolted connection, the bolts are subjected to shear.

- Bolts can fail in shear or in tension.

- You can calculate the shear strength or the tensile strength of a bolt

 Simple connection: If the line of action of the force acting on the connection passes through

the center of gravity of the connection, then each bolt can be assumed to resist an equal share

of the load.

 The strength of the simple connection will be equal to the sum of the strengths of the

individual bolts in the connection.

 We will first concentrate on bolted shear connections.

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3.2 BOLTED SHEAR CONNECTIONS

 We want to design the bolted shear connections so that the factored design strength (Rn) is

greater than or equal to the factored load.

 So, we need to examine the various possible failure modes and calculate the corresponding

design strengths.

 Possible failure modes are:

- Shear failure of the bolts

- Failure of member being connected due to fracture or block shear or ….

- Edge tearing or fracture of the connected plate

- Tearing or fracture of the connected plate between two bolt holes

- Excessive bearing deformation at the bolt hole

 Shear failure of bolts

- Average shearing stress in the bolt = fv = P/A = P/(db2/4)

- P is the load acting on an individual bolt

- A is the area of the bolt and db is its diameter

- Strength of the bolt = P = fv x ( db2/4) where fv = shear yield stress = 0.6Fy

- Bolts can be in single shear or double shear as shown below.

- When the bolt is in double shear, two cross-sections are effective in resisting the load.

The bolt in double shear will have the twice the shear strength of a bolt in single shear.

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 Failure of connected member

- We have covered this in detail in Ch. 2 on tension members

- Member can fail due to tension fracture or block shear.

 Bearing failure of connected/connecting part due to bearing from bolt holes

- Hole is slightly larger than the fastener and the fastener is loosely placed in hole

- Contact between the fastener and the connected part over approximately half the

circumference of the fastener

- As such the stress will be highest at the radial contact point (A in Figure 3). However, the

average stress can be calculated as the applied force divided by the projected area of

contact.

- Average bearing stress fp = P/ (db t), where P is the force applied to the fastener.

- The bearing stress state can be complicated by the presence of nearby bolt or edge. The

bolt spacing and edge distance will have an effect on the bearing strength.

- Bearing stress effects are independent of the bolt type because the bearing stress acts on

the connected plate not the bolt.

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- A possible failure mode resulting from excessive bearing close to the edge of the

connected element is shear tear-out as shown below (Figure 4). This type of shear tear-

out can also occur between two holes in the direction of the bearing load.

Rn = 2 x 0.6 Fu Lc t = 1.2 Fu Lc t

Figure 3

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- To prevent excessive deformation of the hole, an upper limit is placed on the bearing

load. This upper limit is proportional to the fracture stress times the projected bearing

area

Rn = C x Fu x bearing area = C Fu db t

If deformation is not a concern then C = 3, If deformation is a concern then C=2.4

C = 2.4 corresponds to a deformation of 0.25 in.

- Finally, the equation for the bearing strength of a single bolts is Rn

where,  = 0.75 and Rn = 1.2 Lc t Fu < 2.4 db t Fu

Lc is the clear distance in the load direction, from the edge of the bolt hole to the edge of

the adjacent hole or to the edge of the material

- This relationship can be simplified as follows:

The upper limit will become effective when 1.2 Lc t Fu = 2.4 db t Fu

i.e., the upper limit will become effective when Lc = 2 db

If Lc < 2 db, Rn = 1.2 Lc t Fu

If Lc > 2 db, Rn = 2.4 db t Fu

Figure 4

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3.3 DESIGN PROVISIONS FOR BOLTED SHEAR CONNECTIONS

 In a simple connection, all bolts share the load equally.

T/n T/n

T T/n T/n
T

T/n T/n

 In a bolted shear connection, the bolts are subjected to shear and the connecting / connected

plates are subjected to bearing stresses.

T
T

Bearing stresses in plate

T
Bearing stresses in plate

 The shear strength of all bolts = shear strength of one bolt x number of bolts

 The bearing strength of the connecting / connected plates can be calculated using equations

given by AISC specifications.

 The tension strength of the connecting / connected plates can be calculated as discussed

earlier in Chapter 2.

3.3.1 AISC Design Provisions

 Chapter J of the AISC Specifications focuses on connections.

 Section J3 focuses on bolts and threaded parts

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 AISC Specification J3.3 indicates that the minimum distance (s) between the centers of bolt

2
db
holes is 2 3 . A distance of 3db is preferred (db is the nominal dia. of the bolt).

 AISC Specification J3.4 indicates that the minimum edge distance (Le) from the center of the

standard bolt hole to the edge of the connected part is given in Table J3.4 on page 16.1-123.

 AISC Specification J3.5 indicates that the maximum edge distance for bolt holes (measured

from center of hole) is 12 times the thickness of the connected part (but not more than 6 in.).

The maximum spacing for bolts between painted members or unpainted members not subject

to corrosion is 24 times the thickness of the thinner part (but not more than 12 in.). For bolts

between unpainted members subject to atmospheric corrosion, the spacing is 14 times the

thickness of thinner part (but not more than 7in.).

 Specification J3.6 indicates that the design tension or shear strength of bolts is  FnAb

- is 0.75 (LRFD)

- Table J3.2 gives the values of Fn.

- Ab is the unthreaded area of bolt.

- In Table J3.2, there are different types of bolts A325 and A490 (Group A and Group B).

- The shear strength of the bolts depends on whether threads are included or excluded from

the shear planes. If threads are included in the shear planes then the strength is lower.

- We will always assume that threads are included in the shear plane, therefore less

strength to be conservative.

 We will look at specifications J3.7 – J3.9 later.

 AISC Specification J3.10 indicates the bearing strength of plates at bolt holes.

- The design bearing strength at bolt holes is Rn (=0.75 (LRFD))

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 - Rn = 1.2 Lc t Fu ≤ 2.4 db t Fu - deformation at bolt holes is a design consideration

- Rn = 1.5 Lc t Fu ≤ 3.0 db t Fu - deformation at bolt holes not a consideration

- Where, Fu = specified tensile strength of the connected material

- Lc = clear distance, in the direction of the force, between the edge of the hole and the

edge of the adjacent hole or edge of the material (in.).

- t = thickness of connected material

For connections, the bearing resistance shall be taken as the sum of the bearing resistances of the

individual bolts.