PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

BOLTED CONNECTIONS FOR TENSION MEMBERS

Bolting and welding have been the methods used for making structural steel
connections for the past few decades and riveting is almost obsolete because they no
longer provide the most economical connections. Rivets are still occasionally used for
fasteners, but their use has declined to such a degree that most steel fabricators have
discontinued riveting altogether.

TYPES OF BOLTS FOR CONNECTING MEMBERS

1. Unfinished bolts – sometimes called ordinary or common bolts. They are classified
by the ASTM as A302 bolts and are made from carbon steels with stress – strain
characteristics like those of A – 36 steels.

2. High – Strength bolts – they are made from medium – carbon heat treated steel and
from alloy steel and have tensile strengths greater than those of ordinary bolts. They
are designated as A325 and A490 bolts.

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

TYPES OF BOLTED CONNECTION

1. Slip – critical or Friction type connection – bolted connections where high slip
resistance is desired. When high – strength bolts are fully tensioned, they clamp parts
being connected tightly together, this results on a considerable resistance to slipping
on the surface equal to the clamping force times the coefficient of friction. When the
shearing load is less than the permissible frictional resistance, the connection is
referred to a slip – critical or friction type. If the load exceeds the frictional resistance,
the members will slip on each other and will tend to shear off the bolts and at the same
time the connected parts will push or bear against the bolts. In this type of connection,
the specification assumes the bolts are in shear and no bearing.

2. Bearing type connection – bolting connections where high slip resistance is not
necessary.

SIZES AND TYPES OF HOLES FOR BOLTS

Standard size bolt and rivet holes are 1.6mm larger in diameter than the bolt or
rivets.

1. Oversized Holes – they are used in all plies of connection if the applied load does
not exceed the allowable slip resistance. They should not be used in being bearing
type connection.

2. Short Slotted Holes – they are used regardless of the direction of the applied load if
the permissible slip resistance is larger than the applied force. If the load be applied in
a direction normal to the slot, these holes maybe used in any bearing type connections.

3. Long Slotted Holes – they are used in only one of the connected parts of friction type
or bearing type connections. For friction type these holes maybe used in any direction
but for bearing – type connections the load must be normal to the axis of slotted holes.
If long – slotted holes are used in an outer ply, they will need to be covered by plate
washers.
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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

TYPES OF BOLTED CONNECTIONS

a. Lap Joint

b. Butt Joint

c. Double Plane Connection

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

d. Bolts in Multiple Shear

e. Triple Riveted – Butt Joint

f. Quadruple – Riveted Butt Joint

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

FAILURE OF BOLTED JOINTS

a. Shear Failure of Bolt

b. Tension Failure of Plate

c. Bearing Failure of Plate

d. Shear Failure of Plate Behind Bolt

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

e. Double Shear Failure of a Butt Joint

MINIMUM SPACING OF BOLTS

Distance between centers of standard, oversized or slotted fastener holes shall

not be less than 2 – 2/3 times the nominal diameter of the fastener nor less than that
required by the following paragraph, if applicable.

Along a line of transmitted forces, the distance between centers of holes “S” shall
less than 3d when:

1. Fp = 1.20 Fu for standard or short – slotted holes with two or more bolts in line of
force.

2. Fp = 1.0 Fu for long – slotted holes with the axis of the slot perpendicular to the
direction of load and with two or more bolts in the line of force. Otherwise, the distance
between centers of holes shall not be less than the following

2P d
S≥ +
Fu t 2

Where:

P – force transmitted by one fastener to the critical connected part.

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

Fu – specified minimum tensile strength of the critical connected

part.

t – thickness of critical connected part.

d – nominal diameter of fastener.

MINIMUM EDGE DISTANCE

2P
Minimum Le = but not less than 1.5d
Fu t

MAXIMUM EDGE DISTANCE AND SPACING

Maximum Le =12t but not to exceed 150mm

t=thickness of the connected part under consideration

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

For unpainted built-up members which is expressed to atmospheric corrosion:

Maximum Le =8t but not to exceed 125mm

Spacing of fasteners=14t but not to exceed 175mm

Where:

t – thickness of thinnest part

PIN – CONNECTED MEMBERS

Pin – connected members consists of eye bars and pin – connected plates. Most
of the bridges on the early years were pin – connected but the disadvantage of the old
pin – connected trusses was the wearing of the pins in the holes which causes looseness
of the joints. In the present, trusses are using bolted or welded connections, but
occasionally pin – connected bars are used as tension members for long – span bridges
and hangers for some type of bridges and other structures where they are normally
subjected to very large dead loads.

Allowable stresses:

1. On the net area of the pin – hole for pin – connected members = 0.45 Fy.

2. On the gross area of members = 0.60 Fy.

3. Bearing stress on projected area of the pin = 0.90 F y.

a. Pin – Connected Plates

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

For pin – connected members in which the pin is expected to provide for relative
movement between connected parts while under full load, the diameter of the pin hole
shall not be more than 0.80mm greater than diameter of the pin.

d= dp +0.80

Where:

d – diameter of hole

dp – diameter of pin

The distance used in calculations, transverse to the axis of pin – connected plates
or any individual elements of a built – up member, from edge of the pin – hole to the
edge of the member shall not exceed 4 times the thickness at the pin hole.

EDGE DISTANCE FROM EDGE OF HOLE

de ≤4t

4
de ≤ d
5

The minimum net area beyond the pin – hole, parallel to the axis of the member,
shall not be less than 2/3 of the net area across the pin hole.

2
Net area along CO > of net area along ab
3

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

TENSILE STRESS OF PIN – CONNECTED PLATES

P
<0.45Fy
An

BEARING STRESS OF PIN – CONNECTED PLATES

P
<0.90Fy
dn t

b. EYE BARS

1. The width of the body of an eye bar shall not exceed 8 times its thickness.

W≤8t

2. The pin diameter shall not be less than 7/8 times the eye bar width.

7
dp ≥ W
8

3. The pin hole diameter shall not be no more than 0.80mm greater than the pin
diameter.

d=dp +0.80

4. For steel having a yield stress greater than 483 MPa, the hole diameter shall not
exceed 5 times the plate thickness and the width of the eye bar shall be reduced
accordingly.

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

d≤5t

5. The distance from the hole edge to plate edge perpendicular to the direction of the
applied load shall not be less than 2/3 nor greater than ¾ times the width of the eye
bar body.

3
de ≤ W
4

2
de ≥ W
3

6. Thickness of body of eye bar.

t>12mm

7. Tensile stress at section 1 - 1.

P
<0.45Fy
An

8. Net area at section 1 - 1.

An =Wt-dt

9. Tensile stress at section 2 – 2.

P
<0.60Fy
Wt

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

EXAMPLES

1. The single 200mm x 10mm steel plate is connected to a 12mm thick steel plate by
four 16mm diameter as shown. The rivets used are A502, Grade 2, hot driven rivets.
The Steel is ASTM A36 with Fy = 248 MPa and Fu = 400 MPa. Determine the value of P
in all possible modes of failure and the safe value of P that the connection can resist.

SOLUTION

Rivet diameter=16mm

Hole=16+1.6=17.6mm

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

Tension on gross area

Ft =0.60Fy

Ft =0.60(248)=148.8 MPa

Ag =200(10)=2,000 mm2

P=Ft Ag

P=(148.8)(2,000)

P=297,600 N or 297.60 kN

Tension on net area

Ft =0.50Fu

Ft =0.50(400)=200 MPa

Net Area along section a - a

Ae =[200-2(17.6)](10)=1,648 mm2

85% Ag =0.85(2,000)

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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

85% Ag =1,700 mm2

P=Ft Ae

P=(200)(1,648)

P=329,600 N or 329.60 kN

Bearing on Projected Area

Fp =1.20Fu

Ft =1.20(400)=480 MPa

Ap = ∑ dt

Ap = ∑[16(10)](4)=640 mm2

P=Fp Ap

P=(480)(640)

P=307,200 N or 307.20 kN

Shear on Rivets

Fv =152 MPa

π
Av =4 x (16)2 =804.25 mm2
4

P=Fv Av

P=(152)(804.25)

P=122,246 N or 122.246 kN

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

Shear Rupture (block shear)

P=Fv Av +Ft At

Fv =0.30Fu

Fv =0.30(400)=120 MPa

Av =2Abc

Av =2{[135-1.5(17.6)](10)}

Av =2,172 mm2

Ft =0.50Fu

Ft =0.50(400)=200 MPa

At =2Aab

At =2{[50-0.5(17.6)](10)}

At =824 mm2

P=(120)(2,172)+(200)(824)

P=425,440 N or 425.44 kN

∴the safe load is 122.246 kN governed by shear on rivets

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

2. A plate with width of 300mm and thickness of 20mm is to be connected to two plates
of the same width with half the thickness by 25mm diameter rivets as shown. The rivet
holes have a diameter 2mm larger than the rivet diameter. The plate is A36 steel with
yield strength Fy = 248 MPa. Allowable tensile stress on net area is 0.60Fy and allowable
bearing stress of 1.35Fy. The rivets are A502, Grade 2, hot – driven rivets with allowable
shear stress of 150 MPa.

a. Determine the maximum load that can be applied to the connection without
exceeding the allowable tensile stress in the plates.

b. Determine the maximum load that can be applied to the connection without
exceeding the allowable shear stress in the rivets.

c. Determine the maximum load that can be applied to the connection without
exceeding the allowable bearing stress between the plate and the rivets.

SOLUTION

a. Tensile stress in plates

Tension on net area

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

Ft =0.60Fy

Ft =0.60(248)=148.8 MPa

Net Area of Plate

Ae =[300-2(25+2)](20)=4920 mm2

P=Ft Ae

P=(148.8)(4920)

P=732,096 N or 732.10 kN

b. Shear on rivets

Shear on Rivets

Fv =150 MPa

Av =2Ab x 4

π
Av =2 [ (16)2 (4)] =3,927 mm2
4

P=Fv Av

P=(150)(3,927)

P=589,050 N or 589 kN

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

c. Bearing stress

Fp =1.35Fy

Ft =1.35(248)=334.80 MPa

Ap = ∑ dt

Ap =[25(20)](4)=2,000 mm2

P=Fp Ap

P=(334.80)(2,000)

P=669,600 N or 669.60 kN

3. A riveted lap joint is shown. The rivets used are A502, Grade 2, hot – driven with
diameter of 16mm. The steel is ASTM A501, 20mm wide and 10mm thick. Determine
the value of P in all possible modes of failure and the safe value of P that the connection
can resist.

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

SOLUTION

Plate stresses (ASTM A501)

Fy =248 MPa and Fu =400 MPa

Shear on Rivets (Single shear)

Fv =152 MPa

Av =Ab x 5

π
Av = [ (16)2 (5)] =1,005.3 mm2
4

P=Fv Av

P=(152)(1,005.3)

P=152,807 N or 152.81 kN

Bearing on Contact Area

Fp =1.20Fu

Ft =1.20(400)=480 MPa

Ap = ∑ dt

Ap =[16(10)](5)=800 mm2

P=Fp Ap

P=(480)(800)

P=384,000 N or 384.0 kN

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

Tension on gross area

Ft =0.60Fy

Ft =0.60(248)=148.8 MPa

Ag =200(10)=2,000 mm2

P=Ft Ag

P=(148.8)(2,000)

P=297,600 N or 297.60 kN

Tension on net area

Ft =0.50Fu

Ft =0.50(400)=200 MPa

Hole diameter=16+1.6=17.6 mm

Net Area along first row

A'e =Wnet x t

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

A'e =[200-17.6](10)=1,824 mm2

85% Ag =0.85(2,000)

85% Ag =1,700 mm2

Use A'e =1,700 mm2

Net Area along second row

Anet
A'e = n
1-
N

Ae =Wnet x t

Ae =[200-3(17.6)](10)=1,472 mm2

85% Ag =0.85(2,000)

85% Ag =1,700 mm2

1,472
A'e = =1,840 mm2
1
1- 5

Use A'e =1,700 mm2

P=Ft A'e

P=(200)(1,700)

P=340,000 N or 340.0 kN
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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

Thus, the safe P=152,807 N or 152.81 kN (governed by shear on rivets).

4. Determine the value of P in all possible modes of failure and the safe value of P that
the connection can resist.

SOLUTION

Rivet diameter=20mm

Hole diameter=20+1.6=21.6mm

Rivet (A502 Grade 1), Fu =120 MPa

Plate (A53), Fy =241 MPa, Fu =414 MPa

Shear on Rivets (6 rivets in double shear)

Av =Ab x 6 x 2

π
Av = [ (20)2 (6)(2)] =3,770 mm2
4

P=Fv Av

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

P=(120)(3,770)

P=452,400 N or 452.4 kN

Bearing on projected area

Fp =1.20Fu

Ft =1.20(414)=496.80 MPa

Ap = ∑ dt

Middle plate,t=16 mm

Side plate,total t=24 mm

Ap =[16(16)](6)=1,920 mm2

P=Fp Ap

P=(496.80)(1,920)

P=953,856 N or 953.86 kN

Tension on gross area (governed by the middle plate)

Ft =0.60Fy

Ft =0.60(241)=144.6 MPa

Ag =250(16)=4,000 mm2

P=Ft Ag

P=(144.6)(4,000)

P=578,400 N or 578.40 kN

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

Tension on net area

Ft =0.50Fu

Ft =0.50(414)=207 MPa

Hole diameter=20+1.6=21.6 mm

P=Ft A'e

Net Area along first row, middle plate

A'e =Wnet x t

A'e =[250-21.6](16)=3,654.4 mm2

85% Ag =0.85(4,000)

85% Ag =3,400 mm2

Use A'e =3,400 mm2

Net Area along second row

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

Anet
A'e = n
1-
N

Ae =Wnet x t

Ae =[250-2(21.6)](16)=3,308.8 mm2

3,308.8
A'e = =3,970.56 mm2
1
1- 6

Net Area along third row

Anet
A'e = n
1-
N

Ae =Wnet x t

Ae =[250-3(21.6)](16)=2,963.2 mm2

2,963.2
A'e = =5,926.4 mm2
3
1- 6

Side plates, combined t = 24mm

Net Area along first row

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

A'e =Wnet x t

A'e =[250-3(21.6)](24)=4,444.8 mm2

85% Ag =0.85(6,000)

85% Ag =5,100 mm2

Use A'e =4,444.80 mm2

For this arrangement where the first row have more bolts than the rest of the rows, it
is impossible for the plate to tear along the other rows.

Least A'e =3,400 mm2

P=Ft A'e

P=(207)(3,400)

P=703,000 N or 703.0 kN

Thus, the safe P=452,400 N or 452.40 kN (governed by shear on rivets)

5. A pin connected plate is shown. Pin diameter is 62.5mm and thickness of plate is
12mm. Material used is ASTM 441 with Fy = 345.5 MPa and Fu = 483 MPa.

a. Compute the allowable tensile load.

b. Compute the edge distance de and check for the required NSCP Specs for the edge
distance, de.

c. Check for the required NSCP Specs for net areas beyond the pin hole.

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

SOLUTION

a. Allowable tensile load

Based on gross area

P=0.60Fy Ag

P=0.60(345.5)(150)(12)

P=373,140 N

Based on net area

d=62.5+0.80

d=63.30 mm

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

An =(150-63.3)(12)

An =1,040.40 mm2

P=0.45Fy An

P=0.45(345.5)(1,040.4)

P=161,756 N

Allowable tensile load, P=161.76 kN

b. Edge distance

2de +d=150

2de +63.30=150

de =43.35 mm

de ≤4t

43.35≤4(12)=48;ok

4
de ≤ d
5

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 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

4
de ≤ (63.3)=50.64;ok
5

Use de =43.35 mm

c. Net area of section CO

63.30
cp=100-
2

cp=68.35 mm

Net area of CO=68.35(12)

Net area of CO=820.20 mm2

Net area of section b-b

An =(150-63.30)(12)

An =1,040.40 mm2

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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

2
An along CO > An along b-b
3

2
820.20> (1,040.40)
3

820.20>693.60 mm2 ;ok

Use An =820.20 mm2

References:

V.I. Besavilla Jr., 2007. Simplified Steel Design

DIT Gillesania, Fundamental of Structural Steel Design

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