Bolted connections

Connections are used to transfer the forces from one member to another (Fig. 1).
Although both welded and bolted connections are used in steel structures, bolted
connections are commonly used because of the ease of fabrication, buildability and
ability to accommodate minor site adjustments.

Fig. 1 Bolted connection

Bolt sizes are defined in terms of their nominal diameter, length under the head and
thread length.
For example M16 bolts have nominal diameter 16mm.
In bolted connection, the diameter of the hole is 1 mm larger than nominal
diameter of bolt.
In a bolted connection (Fig. 2), the bolts are subjected to shear and bearing stresses.

Fig. 2
Remark:
The bolt rod cross sections acted by shear are situated in planes which separate
elements of the pack with different displacement tendencies.

A. Strength condition for shear:

max

n ns

Rsb

where:

- the maximum value of shear stresses acting in the cross-section of the bolt

max

rod
N force transmitted by joint;
n number of bolts;
ns number of shear planes for one bolt;
e.g. For bolts in single shear, ns=1 and for bolts in double shear ns=2;
d nominal diameter of the bolt;
Rsb design shear strength ( Rsb =170 N/mm2 for OL37 steel grade).
B. Strength condition for bearing:

max

N
Rbb
n d t min

where:

max

- the maximum value of bearing stresses

t min -

the minimum value of the summation of the thicknesses of the

connected plates experiencing displacement tendencies in the same direction

e.g. For the above example (Fig.2):

t min min(t1 t3 ; t2 ) ;

Rbb design bearing strength ( Rbb =420 N/mm2 for OL37 steel grade).
THE THREE STRENGTH OF MATERIALS PROBLEMS:
1. Check
a)

b)

max

max

n ns

Rsb

N
Rbb
n d t min

2. Design
a) Shear capacity and bearing capacity of one bolt:

1b , s
cap

=n s

d2

Rsb shear capacity of one bolt

4
1b ,b
N cap
=d t min Rbb bearing capacity of one bolt

b) Load carrying capacity of one bolt:

1b
1b , s
1b ,b
Ncap
min Ncap
; Ncap

c) Number of bolts:

N
(rounded up to an integer number)
1b
N cap

3. Load carrying capacity of joint

a) Shear capacity and bearing capacity of one bolt:

1b , s
cap

1b ,b
cap

=n s

d2

Rsb shear capacity of one bolt

4
=d t min Rbb bearing capacity of one bolt

b) Load carrying capacity of one bolt:

1b
1b , s
1b ,b
Ncap
min Ncap
; Ncap

c) Load carrying capacity of joint:

jo int
1b
Ncap
n Ncap