UNIT NO. 5.

BOLTED CONNECTIONS

Bolts in Tension
Runways, when fixed to the underside of steel work, are normally bolted direct,
clamped or fixed with special clips. Fig 1 shows a typical joint of a continuous
runway under the support steel.

UB cutting bolted or welded Supporting member

to web of supporting member.
Number and diameter of bolts
to suit maximum reactions. Shims where required for
vertical alignment of runway
beams during erection.
Splice plate bolted or welded
each side of runway beam if Runway
flanges are not butt welded. beam

Butt welded lower flange as

an
alternative to stiffening plates

Joint between Continuous Runway under Supporting Member

Figure 1

When checking such a connection for strength the bolt groupings would be taken as
two groups of four bolts, this assuming that no load is passed through the splice
plate connection. When testing the load would be placed just to each side of the joint
line thus throwing maximum load on each bolt group.

Bolts not in direct tension

Some manufacturers tend to use clamp plate connections, Fig 2. With this type of
connection the load on the bolts will be greater than a direct connection as in Fig 1
because of the leverage induced. The amount of this increase will depend on the
design of these connections.

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 Supporting member

Clamp plate

Clamp plate
Runway beam

Spacers provide fully clipped joint

Bolted Plate Clamp Connection

Figure 2

One of the most popular methods for connecting beams is a Lindapter Girder
Clamp, which can be used for any size and type of beam as well as for any possible
arrangement. There are other, similar, clamps on the market nowadays, but the
Lindapter is the oldest and perhaps best known. We will therefore restrict our
considerations to these in this unit. When correctly installed, the Lindapter is a quick
and effective way of connecting steel sections, as it is not necessary to drill holes in,
or weld to, either of the beams.

Lindapter connections should always be checked against the recommendations

contained within the Lindapter catalogue. Fig 3 illustrates a typical Lindapter
assembly.

Girder to Girder Assembly

Figure 3

The diameter of bolt is chosen by ensuring the safe working load of the Lindapter
Girder Clamp assembly is in excess of the carrying capacity of the runway
installation. All Lindapters for structural steel are recommended for use with grade
8.8 bolts to BS 3692 and should include hardened washers to DIN 125-1A (200HV).
Loadings for individual Lindapters are again contained within the manufacturers
catalogue, as are the recommended tightening torques for each diameter of bolt. A
complete Lindapter Girder Clamp load table is shown below as table 1.

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 Bolt Dia Torque (Nm) Tensile Single shear Friction (2 bolts) kN
(4 bolts) kN (2 bolts) kN (painted steelwork)

M12 69 23.2 19.8 1.4

M16 147 29.2 36.8 3

M20 285 59 57.6 6

M24 491 78.8 83 9

M30 940 150 131.6 11.6

M36 1715 250 192.2 14.6

Table 1
In most girder clamp configurations there are two types of Lindapter used. The type
A (figure 4) has a recess which is dimensioned to suit the hexagon head of a
standard metric bolt. The type B (figure 5) is identical with the exception of having a
flat top which enables the nut to be rotated, tightening the whole assembly. Other
types are available for special applications, details of which are given in the
Lindapter catalogue.

Type A adapter Type B adapter

Figure 4 Figure 5

A vital part of a Lindapter assembly is the location plate and it is essential that it is
included within the overall assembly. Although the location plate is not used
structurally, the loadings on the Lindapter in a girder clamp configuration pass along
the centre line of the bolt and do not exert a bearing load on the edges of the hole or
a shear stress on the bolt shank, it must be of the correct form. Details of the
minimum length, width and thickness for the location plate are determined as shown
in figure 6 and table 2, and are to be found in the Lindapter catalogue. These
dimensions vary depending on the diameter of the bolt which is to be used.

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 LP1

CTS1 Key:
LP1, LP2 = location plate sizes
BW1 BW1, BW2 = beam widths
CTS1, CTS2 = hole centres
d = bolt hole diameter

BW2 CTS2 LP2

Bolt hole diameter “d”

Location Plate
Figure 6

Lindapter types A, B, C1, C2 and E: Lindapter types D1, D2, D3 and LR:
LP1 = BW1 + (4xd) LP1 = BW1 + (6xd)
LP2 = BW2 + (4xd) LP2 = BW2 + (6xd)

All Lindapter types:

Bolt hole centres:
CTS1 = BW1 + d
CTS2 = BW2 + d

Bolt hole diameter (d):

M10 d = 11mm M12 d = 13mm M16 d = 18mm M20 d = 22mm
M24 d = 26mm M30 d = 33mm M36 d = 39mm

Minimum plate thickness (t):

M10 t = 8mm M12 t = 8mm M16 t = 10mm M20 t = 12mm
M24 t = 15mm M30 t = 20mm M36 t = 40mm
(for types D2, D3 and LR plate thickness must be increased by a minimum
of 50%)

Table 2

It is also important that the Lindapter fits correctly onto the steel beam. To ensure
that it does the Lindapter types A and B are available in three different tail lengths.
These tail lengths enable the Lindapter to sit squarely up against the edge of the
beam flange. To ensure a correct fit, a series of packings are available which
effectively lengthen this tail to enable any thickness of beam to be fastened to.

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When working out these tail lengths and, where necessary, packing combinations, it
is very important that the beam thickness is measured correctly. That is at the very
edge of the flange, see figure 7. The Lindapter catalogue again contains tables
which help with the choice of tail length and packing combinations. Figure 8 shows a
correctly fitted Lindapter.

Tail length and/or packing

combination must equal beam flange
thickness but a tolerance of +0-1mm
(M12 and M16) or +0-1.5mm (M20 to
M36) is acceptable

Beam flange thickness at edge

Figure 7

Beam profile

Lindapter
Type A
Approximately 90o

Figure 8
Correct use of Lindapters

Bolts in Shear
If a runway is set in between support steel work as in Fig 9, then the bolts would be
in single shear.

Angle end
cleats with Profile
fasteners weld.

End cleated type End plate type

Shear Connections
Figure 9

Bearing Loads
When a bolt is used in a shear connection, Fig 9, the effect is two fold; force trying to

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shear the bolts in two and forces trying to crush the material being joined, (See Fig
10).

CSA Force
F

Bolt in Shear
Figure 10

When subjected to a force F the shear stress on the bolt is:

On each side of the shear line the bolt and steelwork is subjected to a crushing
pressure or
compressive stress:

Whether the shearing value or the bearing value in a shear connection is the criteria
depends on the thickness of material the bolts pass through, the number of bolts
used and whether they are in single or double shear.

Friction Grip Bolts

The definition of a friction grip bolt is:
‘A bolt of high tensile steel, used in conjunction with high strength nuts and
hardened steel washers, which are tightened to a specified minimum shank tension
so that transverse or axial loads or both can be transferred between the connected
parts otherwise than by shear in, or bearing on, the bolts.’

Should the Tester and Examiner encounter this type of connection and assuming
the design of the connection is adequate, he would check that the assembly was
correct. Where plane parallel surfaces are involved, each bolt-and-nut assembly
shall include one washer, placed under the bolt head or the nut, whichever is to be
rotated during tightening.

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The rotated bolt head or nut shall always be tightened against a surface normal to
the bolt axis; this will require the use of an appropriate tapered washer where the
surfaces are not parallel. Such a washer shall also be used under the non-rotated
components except where the angle between bolt axis and contact surface is within
the limits of 87° and 93°. Tapered washers shall be correctly positioned.

No gasket or other flexible material shall be placed between the plies. Holes in parts
to be joined shall be sufficiently well aligned to permit bolts to be freely inserted.
Driving of bolts is not permitted. Nuts shall be so placed that their identification
marks are clearly visible after tightening.

Bolts and nuts shall always be tightened in a staggered pattern and, where there are
more than four bolts in a joint, from the middle of the joint outwards. High strength
friction grip bolts, nuts and washers may be used temporarily to facilitate assembly
during erection of a structure; if they are so used, care shall be taken that there is no
deterioration of the thread surfaces which will affect the torque-tension relation, and
final tightening shall be in the correct pattern for the complete joint.

If after final tightening a bolt or nut is slackened off for any reason, the bolt nut and
washer or washers shall be discarded and not re-used.

Methods of Tightening
Although very difficult for the Tester and Examiner to check he should perhaps know
how friction grip bolts are tightened; two methods are recommended in BS 3294 and
BS 4604.

1. The part-turn method - when bolts and nuts are tightened by the part-turn
method, the following procedure shall be adopted:

On assembly of the joint, all bolts and nuts are subjected to preliminary
tightening to bring the joint surfaces into close contact. Such a tightening is not
intended as a corrective for faulty workmanship. For bolts up to and including
24mm in diameter, this can usually be achieved by tightening with spanners
complying with a BS now in preparation. Power operated wrenches may be used
and will be required for larger diameters.

After completion of the preliminary tightening of all nuts in a joint, permanent

marks are made on each nut and the protruding threads of its bolt to record their
relative positions. Each nut is then finally tightened, preferably with a
power-operated wrench, so that it turns relative to its bolt by the amount given in
Table 3.

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 Nominal size and Grip of bolt for rotation of the nut
thread diameter of bolt (relative to the bolt shank)

Not less than 1/2 turn Not less than 3/4 turn

mm mm
M16 up to 115 --
M20 up to 115 over 115 to 225
M22 up to 115 over 115 to 275
M24 up to 160 over 160 to 350
M27 up to 160 over 160 to 350
M30 up to 160 over 160 to 350
M36 up to 160 over 160 to 350

NOTE 1: With the amount of nut rotation specified in the above table, a
bolt tension at least equal to the proof load will be attained.
NOTE 2: This method of tightening is not recommended for M12 bolts.

Final Tightening of Nuts

Table 3

2. The torque-control method of tightening - when bolts and nuts are tightened
by the torque-control method, the following procedure shall be adopted:

This method requires the use of a calibrated tightening device, either a

power-operated or a hand-operated torque wrench. The bolt and nut are
tightened to a minimum bolt tension equal to the proof load. The torque
necessary to induce this tension is determined by the actual site conditions.

Where there are several bolts in a single joint, the wrench is re-applied to
tighten up bolts previously tightened which may have lost tension through
tightening of subsequent bolts, until all are finally tightened to the prescribed
torque.

The recommendations of the wrench manufacturer should be followed. It is

essential to ensure that the wrench is maintained in proper working condition
and calibration. The calibration is as follows:

The tightening equipment, whatever its type or pattern, shall be calibrated

regularly at least once per shift, and more frequently if in the engineer’s
opinion conditions of site and usage so demand. The calibration shall consist
of tightening a sample bolt (which thereafter shall not be used either for
calibration or structural purposes) against a load cell or similar device capable
of measuring the shank tension induced. The equipment shall be adjusted to
give a shank tension 10% higher than the minimum given in the second
column of Table 4, by the means provided either in the wrench or by ancillary
equipment supplied or recommended by the wrench manufacturer.

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 Nominal size and Proof load kN
thread diameter (minimum shank tension)

M12 49.4
M16 92.1
M20 144
M22 177
M24 207
M27 234
M30 286
M36 418

Proof Loads of Bolts (Minimum Shank Tensions)

Table 4

The equipment shall be recalibrated if there is a change in the diameter of

bolt being used, or if there is a change in grip length exceeding one fifth of
that used for calibration.

With air-operated wrenches, where stall or cut-off is controlled by air

pressure, it is recommended that a working time of 10s to 15s be used to
attain the required shank tension. The nut shall in any case be kept in motion
throughout the calibration period. The length of hose between wrench and
compressor shall be the same when calibrating as when in actual use, the
length between wrench and reducing valve shall be as short as possible, and
not more than 3m.

The load cell or similar device shall be checked for register and accuracy at
intervals as recommended by the manufacturer.

Load testing this connection; prior to load testing a mark should be scribed on
the mating surfaces.

Having applied the test load adjacent to the connection the tester can
examine for slip. If slip does occur then all bolts have to be removed and
scrapped. New bolts should then be torqued up to one of the prescribed
procedures and therefore retested.

Note: Recently, pressed steel plate connections similar to the Lindaptor

connection have appeared for lighter section universal beams. The
permissible loadings for these should be obtained from the manufacturer.

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