Steel Structures

CVEN3303
Lecture-9: Connections (Part-2)

General assumptions for elastic analysis of bolt group

according to AS4100 - 1998
Plate elements being bolted are rigid and all connectors fit perfectly.
The overall bolt group design actions V x* , V y* & M * may be superimposed
for simplicity.
An instantaneous centre of rotation (ICR) is evaluated for the bolt group. The
ICR point may be the bolt group centroid or a point rationally determined from
the joints rotational behaviour.
The forces from the group design action effects acting on individual bolts are
proportional to the distance from the bolt to the centre of rotation.
The critical bolt(s) is then considered to be the bolt(s) furthest from the ICR.
The term critical bolt(s) refers to the bolt (or bolts) subject to the greatest
shear force arising from the combined effects from the overall bolt group
design actions. The critical bolt is then used for the design check of the
overall bolt group.
Conventional analysis uses the ICR concept in conjunction with superposition
principles.

Elastic analysis of bolt groups (In-plane-loading)

n: total number of bolts

*
VxR

xp
y

VM* : shear

due to torque

R y*

Vx*R

R y*
yp

M*
ICR

Vy*M

R x*

M*

ICR

Counter clockwise M

I y xn
2

I x yn
2

*
Vres

I p Ix Iy

The resultant

VxM*

*
yR

*
V yM

R x*
*

is positive .

V
2

*
xR

*
VxM

*
Vres

Vy*R
x

*
V yR

Rx*

R *y

*
VxM

M * yp

Ip

*
V yM

M * xp

Ip

____________
2

Vectorial sum

R * M * x R* M * y
p
p
y
x

n I p n I p

Step by step procedure for analysis of bolt group

under In-plane-loading (Clause 9.4.1, AS4100 1998)
ex
y

(xi ,yi) : coordinate of bolt ( i )

Fy*

respect to bolt group centroid

M*

Fx*

xi
yi

y
Fy*

ey
x

M o*

Fx*

n: total number of bolts

Centroid of
group bolt

M o* = M *+ Fy* e x -- Fx* e y

Step by step method

1. Determine the centroid of the bolt group
2. Set the x-y coordinate system at the centroid and determine (xi,yi)
3. Determine the eccentricities (e x ,e y) of the loads (in x-y coordinate)

Step by step procedure (Continue)

4. Calculate the second-moment of area (Ix,Iy) about x & y axes from
n

Ix
i 1

yi2

I y xi2
i 1

5. Calculate the polar second moment of the area from I p I x I y

6. Transfer the shear force and bending moment to the centroid and
calculate M o* M * F y* e x Fx* e y
7.

V f* for bolt (i) can be calculated from

2

Note: pay attention to the

adopted sign convention.

R* M * x R* M * y
y
o i
V f*
x o i

n I p n I p

8. The furthest bolt from ICR with (xmax ,ymax) could be the most
critical one but it depends on the sign of Fx* , F y* & M o* .

Elastic analysis of bolt groups (out-of-plane-loading)

e

n1: number of
bolts in the top row

Vo*

Vo*
n1: number of

T1

bolts in the top row

T2

Bolt group
centroid

Ti
yc

N.A.
C

shear in bolt : V f* Vo* / n

Vo*
T1

M o* = Vo* e
yi

d/ 6

T2

M o*

Ti
C

n: total number of bolts

From equilibrium of shear/bending moment, it is observed that there are bolts

which are not loaded as they are positioned in the compressive zone of the of
the connection and require no further consideration.
The forces in the tension region bolts can be evaluated by assuming a linear
distribution of force from the neutral axis to the furthest bolts these latter being
the most critically loaded.

Position of neutral axis & tension force in the bolts

(out-of-plane-loading)
There is not much guidance available on precisely evaluating the N.A position.
A conservative approach is to assume the N.A is placed at the bolt group

centroid line
A better approach which appears to be empirically based, is to assume the

N.A is positioned at d / 6 from the bottom of the end plate which has a depth
d (see Figures in previous slide).
After the N.A position is assumed the equilibrium equations are used to
determine the tension load in the furthest (most critical) bolts (i.e. bolt 1).

Equilibrium of bending about N.A :

Equilibrium of horizontal force :

Ti yi C yc M o*

Ti

y
Principle of proportioning in similar triangles : Ti T1 i

M o* y1
T1
2
(
y
i yi y c )

y1

tension in the most critical bolt : N tf* T1 / n1

Prying action (Chapter 8, Gorenc et al., 7th ed., 2005)

Prying action occurs in T-type or butt-type connections with bolts in tension.
Bending of the end plate causes the edges of the end plate to bear hard on the
mating surface, and the resulting reaction must be added to the bolt tension.
There is no specific provisions in AS4100 for determining forces involved in
prying action. According to some of the suggested methods the tension in the
bolts have to be increased by 20-33% due to prying action.
The following measures can be taken to keep the prying action at minimum level

Increasing the ratio a/b to at least 0.75.

Increase the bolt spacing to at least 90 mm.
Increasing the end plate thickness to at least 1.25 times the bolt size
Stiffen the end plates

Step by step procedure for analysis of fillet weld

group under In-plane-loading (Clause 9.8.1, AS4100)
y

( xi , yi ) coordinate of weld line ( i)

Fy*

li : length of weld line ( i)

centroid, respect to weld group centroid

Fx*

M*

ex
Fy*

yi

weld group
centroid

xi

M o*

Fx*

M o* = M *+ Fy* e x -- Fx* e

li

ey

n: total number of weld lines

Step by step method

1. Determine the centroid of the weld group
2. Set the x-y coordinate system at the centroid and determine ( xi , yi )
3. Determine the eccentricities (e x ,e y) of the loads (respect to centroid)

Step by step procedure (Continue)

4. Transfer the shear force and bending moment to the centroid and
calculate M o* M * F y* e x Fx* e y
5. Calculate the group weld polar second moment of the area from
3

l
i
I p li xi2 yi2
12
i 1
n

6.

v *w for any point with the coordinate (xi ,yi) can be obtained from

Note: pay attention to the

adopted sign convention.

v *w

*
R y
n
li
i 1

M o* xi

Ip

R x
n

li
i 1

M o* yi

Ip

7. The furthest point from ICR with (xmax ,ymax) could be the most
critical one but it depends on the sign of Fx* , F y* & M o* .

- Determine Vf (clause 9.3.2.1, AS4100)

250 mm

3@75 =225

50 50

16

4@50 =200

Case-2

250 mm
16

45 45

N*

50

45

50

Ac=225 mm2 from the Table in page 87.

= 0.8 (Table 3.4, AS4100 - 1998)

75

45

nn=1 for both cases (its single shear).

75

N*

Case-1

Case-1: l j 225 300 mm k r 1

Case-2: l j 200 300 mm k r 1

75

16

N*

16

For the lapped connections shown in

the Figure, determine whether the
bolts (M20, 8.8/S) are adequate. The
shear plane is intercepting the threads
and N *=840 kN.

90 mm 90 mm

Example - 13

N*

Example 13 (continue)
V f 0.62 f uf k r nn Ac n x Ao 0.62 8301 1 225 115.8 kN

V f 0.8 115.8 92.6 kN

Alternatively, V f 92.6 kN can be taken from the Table given in Page 87.
- Determine V f*

Vf
n I p

R*y

V f* V f

M o* xi

*
Rx* M o* yi
F

x 840 70 kN
n I p
12
n

OK.

- Check of ply tear out if required

Vb a e t p f up

Example - 14
For the connection and design loads shown in
the sketch below, determine the minimum size
bolts for both Categories 4.6/S and 8.8/S.
90

F y* 300 kN

70 70

90

Fx* 0

200
300 kN

90

M o* 300 ( 0.2 0.307 / 2 ) 106 kN.m

380PFC
310UC118

Step by step method for analysis of bolt group

1. Determine the centroid of the bolt group
y

2. Set the x-y coordinate system at the centroid

and determine (xi , yi)

4. Calculate the second-moment of area (Ix,Iy)

about x & y axes from

90

300 kN

90

90

3. Determine the eccentricities (e x ,e y) of the

loads (in x-y coordinate)

Centroid of
group bolt

106 kN.m
8

70 70

Example 14 (continue)
n

I y y i2 2 135 2 45 2 ( 45 ) 2 ( 135 ) 2 81000 mm 2

i 1
n

I x xi2 4 70 2 4 ( 70 ) 2 39200 mm 2
i 1

5. Calculate the polar second moment of the area from

I p I x I y 120200 mm 2
6. Transfer the shear force and bending moment to the centroid and calculate

M o* M * F y* e x Fx* e y 0 300 ( 0.2 0.307 / 2 ) 0 106050 kN.mm

7.

V f* for bolt (i) can be calculated from

2

R* M * x R* M * y
y
o i

x o i
V f*
n I p n I p

Example 14 (continue)
Bolt number

xi (mm)
yi (mm)
Vf * (kN)

-70

-70

-70

-70

70

70

70

70

135

45

-45

-135

135

45

-45

-135

121.5

46.5

46.5

121.5

155

107

107

155

8. For the most critical bolt V f* 155 kN

V f* V f

OK.

- Determine Vf (clause 9.3.2.1, AS4100)

nn=1 (its single shear) and = 0.8 (Table 3.4, AS4100 1998).
It is a lap-type moment connection kr=1 (clause 9.3.2.1, AS4100)
Design shear capacity of M24,8.8/S : V f 133 kN V f*

NOT OK.

Design shear capacity of M30,8.8/S : V f 214 kN V f*

OK.

Design shear capacity of M30,4.6/S : V f 103 kN V f*

NOT OK.

Design shear capacity of M36,4.6/S : V f 151 kN V f*

OK.

Example - 15
A 380PFC, Grade 300PLUS, is welded
to a 20 mm thick plate and has the
design loading as shown in the Figure.
The loading is predominantly static. For
the proposed distribution of fillet weld
shown, determine the minimum size
fillet weld required for both GP and SP
categories using both E41XX and
E48XX electrodes.

300
100 kN

10 kN.m

380PFC

100
100

ExxXX/W**X

41 in which fuw= 410 MPa

48 in which fuw=480 MPa

30 kN

20PL

Electrodes in Australia are designated by

1
100 kN Centroid of
group weld

380

xx = weld strength grade, either 41 or 48

200

30 kN
42.58 kN.m
3
17.2

Example 15 (continue)
Fx* 30 kN
1.

F y* 100 kN

Determine the centroid of the weld group

100 50 100 50
17.2 mm
100 100 380

2
3

2.

Set the x-y coordinate system at the centroid and determine

Part 1 :

Part 2 :

Part 3 :

( x1 , y1 ) ( 32.8,190)
( x2 , y 2 ) ( 17.2, 0 )
( x3 , y3 ) ( 32.8, 190)

3. & 4. Determine the eccentricities (e x , e y ) of the loads (respect to centroid), and

transfer the shear force and bending moment to the centroid and calculate

M o* M * F y* e x Fx* e y

M o* 10 100 0.4 0.0172 30 0.19 42580 kNmm

Example 15 (continue)
5.

Calculate the group weld polar second moment of the area from

l
i
I p li xi2 y i2
12
i 1
100 3
380 3

2
2
2
I p 2 100 32.8 190
1.23 10 7 mm 3
380 17.2
12
12

6.

v *w for any point with the coordinate (xi , yi) can be obtained from

*
Ry

*
v w n
li
i 1

M o* xi

Ip

R x
n

li
i 1

M o* yi

Ip

Example 15 (continue)
Point

xi (mm)
yi (mm)

82.8

-17.2

-17.2

82.8

190

190

-190

-190

vw * (N/mm)

760

616

718

845

7.

* v
For the most critical point v w
w

-Determine vw (clause 9.7.3.10, AS4100) vw 0.6 f uw tt k r 0.42 f uw t w k r

= 0.8 for SP category and 0.6 for GP (Table 3.4, AS4100 1998).
It is a lap-type moment connection kr=1 (clause 9.7.3.10, AS4100 )
For category GP, E41xx electrode: v w 103.3 t w

t w 10 mm

For category GP, E48xx electrode : v w 120.9 t w

t w 8 mm

For category SP, E41xx electrode:

v w 137.8 t w t w 8 mm

For category SP, E48xx electrode : v w 161.3 t w

t w 6 mm

Example 15 (continue)
The web thickness for 380PFC is t =10 mm > 6 mm. Accordingly, the maximum
fillet weld size is limited to 9 mm (Clause 9.7.3.3 in AS4100 1998).