reading material bolted connection
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Lecture Material on Bolted ConnectionTRANSCRIPT
DESIGN OF JOINTS
Bolted Connections
Introduction
In a steel structure there are different types of structural members. Each member has to be
properly attached to the adjacent parts of the structure. This attachment is achieved using
a joint or connection. There are different types of connections. For example in a steel
frame buildings the main classes of connection are (1) Connection where a change of
direction occurs, e.g. beam-to-column connections, beam-to-beam connections and
connections between different members in trusses (2) Connection which ensure
manageable sizes of steel members for transportation and erection e.g. columns are
normally spliced every two or three storeys.(3) Connections provided where there is a
change of component e.g. column bases, and connections beams or columns with walls,
floors and roofs. Figure 1 shows the different types of connections in steel frame
buildings.
Figure 1 Connections in Multi-storey Frame
Difference between joints and connections as per EC3-1-8
Though “connection” and “joints” are regarded as the same, EC3-1-8 defines them
slightly differently as follows. A connection is the location at which two or more
elements meet. For design purposes it is the assembly of the basic components required
to represent the behaviour during the transfer of relevant internal forces and moments at
the connection. The joint is the zone where two or more members are connected.
Example: A beam – to – column joint consists of a web panel and either one connection
(single sided joint configuration) or two connections (double sided joint configuration).
General requirements of a joint:
Clause 2.2 (1) of EC3-1-8 states that all joints shall have design resistance such that the
structure satisfies all the design requirements of EC3-1-8 and EC3-1-1. The general
recommended partial safety factors and values recommended by UK NAD Mγ to be used
in the design are given in Table 1.
Table 1 Recommended partial safety factors for joints
Partial factor
Type Symbols General
value
UK NAD value
Resistance of members
and cross sections 0Mγ 1.0
1Mγ 1.0
2Mγ 1.0
Resistance of bolts
Resistance of rivets
Resistance of welds
Resistance of plates in
bearing
2Mγ 1.25
Slip resistance at the
ultimate limit state
(category C)
3Mγ 1.25
Slip resistance at the
serviceability limit state
(category B)
serM ,3γ 1.1
Bearing resistance of an
injection bolt 4Mγ 1.0
Resistance of joints in
hollow section lattice
girder
5Mγ 1.0
Preload of high strength
bolts 7Mγ 1.1
Resistance of concrete cγ
The design of joints subject to fatigue is dealt in EN 1993-1-9. The forces and moments
acting on a joint at the ultimate limit state is to be determined using the principles of
EC3-1-1.
Requirements of a connection
The principal structural requirement of a connection is that it be capable of safely
transferring load from the supported members to the supporting member. This
implies that three properties of the connection need to be considered: strength, stiffness,
deformation capacity. Beam-to-column connections can be classified by their stiffness
as nominally pinned, semi-rigid or rigid. For their capability to transfer moments, they
can be classified as nominally pinned, partial-strength and full-strength connections. The
analysis of connections implies the assumption of a realistic internal distribution of forces
that are in equilibrium with the external forces, where each element is capable of
transferring the assumed force and the deformations are within the deformation capacity
of the elements (Clause 2.5 EC3-1-8). In the analysis of connections, a number of
basic load transfers mechanisms can generally be identified.
Bolting and welding are the main methods for making structural steel connections.
Riveting is not used nowadays. The advantages of bolted connections are very rapid field
erection requiring less labour. Even though the cost of high strength bolt is several times
that of a rivet; its overall cost is much lesser than that of a riveted connection due to
reduced labour, equipment cost and lower number of bolts required to carry the same
load.
The principles of design using EC3 are basically same as that by BS 5950. The results of
design are seen to be slightly more conservative in EC3 compared to BS 5950 largely
because of the larger material safety factor for connection, γM=1.25.
Clause 2.6 recommends the type of joints to be used for a joint loaded in shear and
subject to impact, vibration or load reversal. For a joint in shear subject to impact or
significant vibration, welding, bolts with locking devices, preloaded bolts, injection bolts,
rivets or other types of bolt which prevent movement of the connected parts should be
used. Slip is not acceptable for joints subject to reversal of shear load. In this case,
preloaded bolts in category B or C connections, fit bolts, rivets or welding is to be used.
For connections for wind and stability bracings, bolts in category A connections are to be
used.
Effect of joint eccentricity:
Clause 2.7 gives guidance on how the effect of joint eccentricity is considered in different
types of structures. Joints and members should be designed for resulting moments and
forces due to eccentricity at the joints.
The effect of joint eccentricity can be neglected where it can be shown that it is not
necessary to consider the joint eccentricity. For example clause 5.1.5 states that the
distribution of axial forces in a lattice girder is determined on the assumption of pinned
joints. For more details clause 5.1.5 should be referred.
In the case of joints of angles or tees attached by a single line of bolts or two line of bolts,
eccentricity should be considered. This is done by considering the relative positions of
the centroidal axis of the member and the setting out lines of the bolts in the plane of the
connection. For single angle in tension connected by bolts on one leg the simplified
design procedure provided in clause 3.10.3 can be used.
For design of angles used as web members in compression in triangulated and lattice
structures, the effect of eccentricity is neglected and effect of end fixities considered by
calculating an effective slenderness ratio.
Connections with bolts, rivets and pins
Two types/classes of bolts are provided for use by EC3-1-8:2005 in Table 3.1 namely
ordinary bolts and high strength bolts. The rules in EC3-1-8 are valid for 7 bolt classes
4.6, 4.8, 5.6, 5.8, 6.8, 8.8 and 10.9. Ordinary bolts or ordinary grade bolts are put in bolt
classes 4.6, 4.8, 5.6, 5.8 and 6.8 whereas High strength grip bolts or high strength bolts
are put in classes 8.8and 10.9. They can be used for preloaded bolts which are
characterized by a slip-type resistance in shear.
EC3-1-8 provides the yield strength fyb and fub for the bolts classes which may be used as
characteristic values in design (Table 2).
Table 2 Bolt class and corresponding yield strength and ultimate tensile strength
class 4.6 4.8 5.6 5.8 6.8 8.8 10.9
ybf N/mm2 240 320 300 400 480 640 900
ubf N/mm2 400 400 500 500 600 800 1000
Nominal diameters of bolts is given in mm. Bolts are designated as M12, M16, M20,
M22, M24, M27, M30 etc where 12, 16, etc are diameters in mm (Table 3). Bolt holes
are made by drilling or punching. Bolt holes are usually drilled. Punching may be full
size or sometimes the holes are punched under size and then reamed to the required size.
Using gas cutting for forming holes is not recommended since it is inaccurate and the
heat may affect the local properties of steel. Punching of holes saves time and is less
costly but results in distortion near the holes which causes reduced toughness and
ductility leading to brittle fracture. Bolt holes are larger than the bolt diameter to take
care of drilling tolerances. The drilling tolerances are given in EN 1090-2 Requirements
for the execution of steel structures and is summarised in Table 3:
Table 3 Drilling tolerances for bolt holes
Nominal SIZE bolt diameter in mm Nominal clearance
M12,M14 12, 13 1 mm
M16 to M24 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 2 mm
M27 , M30 and above 27, 30 3 mm
The minimum and maximum spacing and end and edge distances for bolts are provided
in table 3.3 of EC 3-1-8 (Table 4) and Figure 2. For maximum values, structures made
from steels conforming to “EN 10025 and not EN 10025-5” and structures conforming to
“EN 10025-5” are identified. In the former category, guidelines for steel are exposed to
weather and corrosive influences or not are provided. For the latter, generally steel used
is unprotected. Unlike BS 5950, EC3 has assumed that plates are machine cut. In the
table, d0 is the hole diameter and t is the thickness of the thinner outer connected plate.
The requirements for structures subject to fatigue are different and are provided in EC3-
1-9 Design of Steel Structures: Fatigue. In the table 4 for more details of the terms 3e ,
4e and other terms, reference to Figure 3.1 of the code is to be made.
Table 4 Minimum and maximum spacing, end and edge distances
Distances and
spacing
Minimum Maximum
Conform to EN 10025 Conform EN
10025-5
End distance
1e 02.1 d mmt 404 + The larger of 8t
or 125 mm
Edge distance
2e
Distances 3e in
slotted holes
05.1 d
Distances 4e in
slotted holes
Spacing 1p 02.2 d The smaller of
t14 or 200mm
The smaller of
14t or 200mm
The larger of
min14t or 175
mm
Spacing 0,1p
Spacing ip ,1 The smaller of
t28 or 400mm
Spacing 2p 04.2 d The smaller of
t14 or 200mm
The smaller of
14t or 200mm
The larger of
min14t or 175
mm
Figure 7.2Symbols for spacing of fasteners (excerpted from EC 3-3-8)
Design Resistance of Individual Fasteners
The design resistance of individual fasteners subject to shear and or tension is given in
Table 3.4 of EC3-1-8. Some important aspects are discussed below.
The design shear resistance RdvF , is to be used where the bolts are used in holes with
nominal clearances not exceeding those for normal holes given in Table 3. M12 and M14
bolts may also be used in 2 mm clearance holes provided that the design resistance of the
bolt group based on bearing is greater or equal to the design resistance of the bolt group
based on bolt shear. The code also states that in addition for class 4.8, 5.8, 6.8, 8.8 and
10.9 bolts the shear resistance RdvF , is taken as 0.85 times the value obtained using
Table 3.4.
Clause 3.6.1 (10) states that in single lap joint with only one bolt row, the bolts are to be
provided washers under both the head and the nut. The expression for design bearing
resistance RdbF , for each bolt is limited to
2
,
5.1
M
u
Rdb
dtfF
γ≤
Also the code cautions from using single bolts in single lap joints.
Types of bolted/ riveted joints based on geometry
Bolted or riveted joints may be classified as lap joint and butt joint. When two members
are overlapped and connected, the joint is called as a lap joint (Figure 3a). Figure 3b
shows a single bolted lap joint and figure 3c shows a double bolted lap joint. Figure 3d
shows how the centre of gravity of loads in the two members are not in one line. This
produces a couple which causes undesirable bending moments in the joint. To minimise
this atleast two rows of bolts must be provided.
(a) 3D view of single riveted lap joint (b) Top view and sectional elevation
of single riveted lap joint
(c) Top view and sectional elevation
of double riveted lap joint
(d) Eccentricity of loads in lap joint
(e) (f) Rivet in single shear in a lap
joint
Figure 3 Bolted Lap Joint
When two members are placed end to end and connected using cover plates, it is called a
butt joint. When plate is provided on one side only, it is called single cover butt joint
(Figure 4a). If the cover plates are provided on both sides, it is called double cover butt
joint (Figure 4d). Figure 7.4b shows single bolted single cover butt joint. Figure 4c shows
double bolted single cover butt joint. Figure 4e shows single bolted double cover butt
joint. Figure 4f shows double bolted double cover butt joint.
(a) Single cover butt joint (b) Single bolted single cover butt
joint
(c) Double bolted single cover butt
joint
(d) Double cover butt joint
(e) Single bolted double cover butt
joint
(f) Double bolted double cover butt
joint
(g) (h) Bolt in double shear in butt joint
Figure 4 Double cover butt joints
Double cover butt joints are preferred due to two reasons. The shear force transmitted by
the members’ acts on two planes whereas in lap joint it acts on only one plane. Therefore
the shear carrying capacity in double cover butt joint is twice that in a lap joint. Also in
double cover butt joint, there is no eccentricity of force and thus bending is eliminated.
Clause 3.6.1 (12) gives reduction factors to be used when packing plates are used bolted
joints.
Types of joints based on force transfer
Simple joints can be classified based on the nature of force transfer as follows
• Direct shear joints
• Direct tension joints
• Eccentric connections: There are two principal types of eccentric loaded connections
namely:
• Bolt group in direct shear and torsion
• Bolt group in shear and tension
These are explained below.
Direct shear joints
In direct shear joints, the bolts are arranged to act in single or double shear. A bolt may
be considered as a simple pin inserted in holes drilled in two or more steel plates or
sections to prevent relative movement. Figure 5 shows a joint in which the bolt is in
single shear.
Figure 7.5
Shearing strength
If the loads are large enough, the bolt may fail by shearing as shown in Figure 6:
Figure 6 The area resisting this failure is the circular area of the bolt shank. The shear resistance
per plane is calculated using equation given in table 3.4 of BS EN 1993 -1-8:
2
,
M
ubv
Rdv
AfF
γ
α=
where the value of vα is given in table 5
Table 5
Condition Value of vα
When the shear plane passes through the threaded
portion of the bolt (A is the tensile area of the bolt)
For classes 4.6, 5.6, 8.8
αv =0.6
For classes 4.8, 5.8, 6.8 and 10.9
αv =0.5
When the shear plane passes through the
unthreaded portion of the bolt (A is the gross cross
section of the bolt)
αv =0.6
The shear type of failure assumes that fairly thick plates are used. Where it can be shown
that the threads do not occur in the shear plane As may be taken as the shank area, A.
These areas are based on BS 3692:2001 and BS 4190:2001. Table 6 shows the gross
areas and tensile areas of standard diameter bolts.
Table 6
Bolt diameter
mm
Gross area
mm2
Tensile stress area
At mm2
8 50 36
10 78 58
12 113 84
16 201 157
18 254 192
20 314 245
22 380 303
24 452 353
27 573 459
30 707 561
36 1017 817
Bearing strength
When relatively large diameter bolts are used to connect two thin steel plates, then failure
will take place by tearing of plates by bolt. This type of failure is known as bearing
failure. The area of contact of bolt with the plates on one side is actually semi-cylindrical
(figure 8), but since the variation of stress around the perimeter of hole is indeterminate,
the strength of bolt in bearing is determined using equation in table 3.4 of EC3 -1-8
2
1
,
M
ub
Rdb
dtfakF
γ=
Where ba is the smallest of dα ;
u
ub
f
for 1.0.
bα is evaluated in the direction of load transfer for end bolts and inner bolts using
following expressions.
For end bolts:
0
1
3d
ed =α
For inner bolts: 4
1
3 0
1−=
d
pdα
1k is evaluated perpendicular to the direction of load transfer separately for edge bolts
and inner bolts by expressions:
For edge bolts: 1k is the smallest of 7.18.20
2−
d
eor 2.5
For inner bolts: 1k is the smallest of 7.14.10
2−
d
por 2.5
Note that the value of k1 depends on the end distance and the value of αb depends on
edge distances. The value of fu is the lesser of the bolt grade or the adjacent plate
grade.
Figure 7
When the plates are pulled, the left plate moves to left, causing the bolt to press against
the plate as shown. Similarly for right plate.
Figure 8
Where thicknesses of plates connected are not equal, the thickness of the thinner plate is
used.
Principal provisions of positioning of holes for bolts is given in section 3.5 of BSEN
1993-1-8:2005
A shear joint can fail in 5 modes namely
(1) Mode 1: by shear on the bolt shank
(2) Mode 2: By bearing on the member or bolt
(3) Mode 3: By shear at the end of the member
(4) Mode 4: By tension in the member and
(5) Mode 5: By block shear.
Failure in shear joints for the different modes can be prevented by the following methods.
Mode 1 and 2 failure can be prevented by providing sufficient number of bolts of suitable
diameter. Failure by mode 3 can be prevented by providing sufficient end distance. Mode
4 failure can be prevented by design tension members for its effective area. Mode 5
failure is observed in a shear joint involving a group of bolts as shown in figure 9. To
prevent such failure check the effective shear area as per the code provisions.
Design for block tearing/ block shear
Block tearing or block shear is a potential failure mode in bolted connections for tension
members, coped beams and gusset plates. Typically this failure mode is characterised by
tearing out of a block of steel with a combination of tension and shear failures through
the bolt holes. Clause 3.10.2 provides the guidelines for design for block tearing. Block
tearing consists of failure in shear at the row of bolts along the shear face of the hole
group accompanied by tensile rupture along the line of bolt holes on the tension face of
the bolt group. Figure 9 shows different cases of block tearing gusset plates (Figure 9d
and e), beam web shear connections with and without coped I-beams(Figure 9a,b and c)
and angles connected by one leg(Figure 9f).
Figure 7.9a,b and c shows bolt group subject to eccentric loading. The design block
shearing resistance RdeffV ,2, is given by
02
,2,3
105
M
nvy
M
ntu
Rdeff
AfAfV
γγ+=
Figure 7.9d and e shows symmetric bolt group subject to concentric loading. The design
block shearing resistance RdeffV ,1, is given by
02
,1,3
1
M
nvy
M
ntu
Rdeff
AfAfV
γγ+=
Note that in the above expressions, for tension rupture net area is taken whereas for shear
yielding the gross area is used.
(a) I-beam with no coping (b) I-beam with single coping
(c) I-beam with double coping (d) Plate under concentric loading
(e) Plate under concentric loading (f) Angle section
Figure 9 Block tearing
Direct Tension joints
The code has two categories for connections loaded in tension as per clause 3.4.2 BS EN
1993-1-8:
Category D: Non – preloaded: (clause 3.4.2(1) a)
Bolt classes 4.6 to 10.9 should be used. No preloading is required. Where connections are
subject to variations in tensile loading, this type of connection is not to be used. However,
they can be used in connections subject to normal wind loads.
Category E: Preloaded: (clause 3.4.2(1) b)
Bolt classes 8.8 and 10.9 are used with controlled tightening as per reference Standards
1.2.7: Group & to be applied.
The design tension resistance is given by the expression:
2
2
,
M
sub
Rdt
AfkF
γ=
Where 2k =0.63 for countersunk bolt; otherwise 2k =0.9
Table 3.2 provides the design checks to be carried out for tension connections. The
design punching shear resistance is given in Table 3.4:
2
,
6.0
M
upm
Rdp
ftdB
γ
π=
Figure 10
Eccentric connections
There are two principal types of eccentric loaded connections namely:
• Bolt group in direct shear and torsion
• Bolt group in shear and tension
Bolt group in direct shear and torsion
Case 1:
Figure 11 shows a bracket subject to a load P at a distance e from the centroid of the
bracket connection. The bolt group is subject two actions namely a direct shearing action
as well as a moment.
Figure 7.11
∑=
××=
noofbolts
n
b
z
zePP
1
2
1
Direct shearing action:
Figure 12 shows the effect of the direct shearing action. The effect of the action on each
bolt is determined by the equation:
n
PPDS =
Figure 12