Advantages of bolted connections against riveted and welded

1. Rapid field erection

2. Requires skilled labour

3. Requires no special tool

4. Overall cost is cheaper because of reduced labour and

equipment cost

5. Less noise compared to rivets and there is no blinding light

of welding

6. Not fire hazard

Failure of Bolt Connections

1. Shearing of bolt

2. Tension on plate

3. Plate bearing

4. Shearing of plate behind bolt

5. Double shear in butt joint

Minimum Edge Distance

• 1.5 to 2x of bolt diameter

2P
• AISC Specifications 1.16.5.1
Fut

where: P = force in kips

Fu = selected / specified minimum tensile
strength of critically connected members
t = thickness of the critically connected part

• Or use AISC Table 1.16.5.4

Minimum Spacing

• AISC minimum spacing centre to centre

2P 

Fut 2

• AISC Table 1.16.4.2

Maximum Edge Distance

• AISC max edge distance = 12 x Plate thickness but not to

exceed 6 inches

• For a compression member, max spacing maybe given to

avoid buckling between bolts
PERMISSIBLE AISC STRESSES FOR RIVETS AND BOLTS

Shear, Fv (ksi)
Fastener Description Tension, Ft (ksi)
Friction Bearing
(A141) A502, Grade 1 Hot Driven Rivets 20 15
(A195) A502, Grade 2 Hot Driven Rivets 27 20
A307 bolts; Applied to tensile area, 20 10
0.7854[D – (0.9743/n)2]
where: D = major thread diameter
n = number of threads per inch

A325, A449 bolts when threading is 40 15 15

included from shear plate

A325, A 449 excluded 40 15 22

A490 not excluded 54 20 22.5
A490 excluded 54 20 32
PERMISSIBLE BEARING STRESSES ON PROJECTED AREAS OF
RIVETS / BOLTS IN BEARING TYPE CONNECTION

Fastener AISC AASHTO

A502 Grade 1 1.35Fy 1.22Fy
A502 Grade 2 1.35Fy 1.22Fy
A307 1.35Fy 1.22Fy
A305
A449 1.35Fy 1.22Fy
A490
LOAD PASSING TROUGH CENTER OF BOLT GROUP

Example: Determine the allowable tensile force, P, which can be applied to the
plates shown. AISC specifications for A36 7/8” diameter A325 bolts with
standard holes and threads excluded from shear plane. Type of connection:
Bearing. Disregard axial eccentricity.
Solution

a. Considering tension (gross area and effective area) in the plate

Considering gross area in tension

P P
  0.6(36)
Ag (12)(1/2)
P = 129.6 kips
Considering effective area = net area
Diameter of hole = 7/8 + 1/8 = 1 inch
Fu = 58 ksi
P P
  0.5Fu  (0.5)(58)
Ae [(12)(1/2)  (1)(1/2)(2)

P = 145 kips
Solution
a. Considering shearing of bolts
Fv = 22 ksi, A325X Bearing type

Area of each bolt = π (7/8)2/ 4 = 0.601 in2

P P
Fv =22 = 
A(n) (0.601)(4)

P = 52.92 kips

a. Considering bearing of plates

Fb = 48.6 ksi

P P
Fb =48.6 = 
  t (7/8)  (1/2)
P = 85.05 kips CHOOSE P = 52.92 kips
ECCENTRICALLY LOADED BOLTS (IN SHEAR)

Combined Stress Formula

P Pe(xory)
Vshear max = 
N J

where: J = polar moment of inertia = S(x2 + y2 )

N = number of bolts
Example #1:

Determine the diameter of the bolts

 Bolt x y x2 y2
1 4.5 0 20.25 0
2 1.5 0 2.25 0
3 1.5 0 2.25 0
4 4.5 0 20.25 0

S(x2) = 45
Pe = 25 x 7.5” = 187.5 kip-in
Pex / J = (187.5)(4.5)/45 = 18.75
Analyze farthest bolt (Bolts 1 and 4)

A325X and Bearing Type

A36 – 12mm thick plate

A325X FSS = 22 ksi

P 25
FSS =  = 22 ksi
A π ( 2 )
4

𝜙 = 1.2” = 30.48mm ≈ 32mm

Check plate bearing with the solved bolt
diameter
fbearing = P  25 = 39.7 ksi
A 1.28(1/2)

Fbearing = 1.35(36) = 48.6 ksi

fbearing = 39.7 ksi < 48.6 ksi OK!

Example #2:

Determine the diameter of the bolts

 Bolt x y x2 y2
1 0 4.5 0 20.25
2 0 1.5 0 2.25
3 0 1.5 0 2.25
4 0 4.5 0 20.25

S(y2) = 45
Pe = 25 x 7.5” = 187.5 kip-in
Pey / J = (187.5)(4.5)/45 = 18.75
Analyze farthest bolts (Bolts 1 and 4)

v = 6.252 + 18.752 = 19.76 kips

P 19.76
FSS =  = 22 ksi
A π ( ) 2
4

𝜙 = 1.07” = 27.16mm ≈ 28mm

Check plate bearing with the solved bolt diameter
fbearing = P  19.76 =35.85 ksi
A 1.10(1/2)

Fbearing = 1.35(36) = 48.6 ksi

fbearing = 35.85 ksi < 48.6 ksi OK!

Example #3:

Determine the diameter of the bolts

 Bolt x y x2 y2
1 3 3 9 9
2 3 3 9 9
3 0 0 0 0
4 3 3 9 9
5 3 3 9 9

S (x2 + y2) = 72

For bolts 1,2,4,5:

Pe = 262.5 kip-in x = 3; y=3

Second and Third Term

Pe(x or y)/ J = 262.5(3) / 72 = 10.94
Analyze bolts 2 and 5 (bolts with highest shear)

v= (5  10.94) 2 + 10.94 2 = 19.33 kips

P 19.33
FSS =  = 22 ksi
A π ( ) 2
4

𝜙 = 1.06” = 26.90mm ≈ 28mm