Chapter 4

Bolted Connections For

Tension Members
 Objectives of the Chapter
• Types of Bolts
• Types of Bolted Connections with respect to Load
Transfer Mechanism
• Failure Modes in Bolted Connections
• Design Strength of bolted connections Based on bolt
shear
• Design Strength of Bolted Connections Based on Bearing
at the Bolt Holes
• Design of Connecting Elements in Bolted Connections of
Tension Members (e.g., Gusset Plates)
 Introduction

• Steel members are usually connected in the fabrication shop by

welding.
• In the construction site either welding or bolting could be used;
however, bolting is more recommended for quality control, ease
and safety reasons.
Introduction (cont’d)
Concentric Shear Connections

(a) Single Shear Lap Connection

(b) Double Shear Butt Connection

Concentric Shear Connections (cont’d)

(c) Bolted Truss Connection

Parts of the Bolt Assembly

Bolt, Nut and Washer

 Parts of the Bolt Assembly
Grip Washer
Washer Nut
Face

Shan Thread
Head k
Length
 Parts of the Bolt Assembly

• Steel washers are used to spread pressure from the bolt

tightening process over a larger area.
 Types of Bolts
• Two commonly used types of high strength bolts are: A325
and A490.
 Types of Bolts
• A325 bolts require a washer under the element being turned
(head or nut) to tighten the bolt.
• A490 bolts require a washer under both the head and nut.
 Types of Bolts (Cont’d)
• Nominal Shear Strength Fv of Bolts is presented in (LRFD Table
J3.2 – p. 16.1-104):
 Types of Bolts (Cont’d)
• A simplified version of Table J3.2 is provided below:

Bolt type Fnv (ksi)

A325N 48
A325X 60
A490N 60
A490X 75

• Note: X denotes threads are excluded form shear plane(s).

N denotes threads are not excluded from shear plane(s).
 Types of Bolts (Cont’d)
Shear plane in
the shank
Failure by
shear in the
shank.

X = Threads excluded form the shear plane.

 Types of Bolts (Cont’d)
Failure by Shear plane in
the threads
Failure by
shear in the
threads.

N = Threads not excluded from the shear plane.

 Types of Bolted Connections w.r.t.
Load Transfer Mechanism
1. Bearing-Type Connections:
• Transfer of loads starts when connected elements slip into
Bearing against the bolt body.

bearing force
in the top plate
Pu

Pu

bearing force in
the bottom plate
 Types of Bolted Connections w.r.t.
Load Transfer Mechanism (Cont’d)
2. Friction-Type (Slip-Critical) Connections:
• Load transfer depends on the friction between connected parts.
• Failure occurs once relative slippage between connected parts
starts.
• Used when connection is subject to fatigue (cyclic loads), and
when bolts are combined with welds in the same joint.
• Bearing at bolt holes must also be checked (in case slippage
occurs).
 Failure Modes in Bolted Connections
1. Tensile failure in the connected members by fracture
(tensile rupture).
Pu
Pu

critical section in
the top plate
Pu Pu

2. Block Shear Rupture in the connected members (BSR).

 Failure Modes in Bolted Connections
(Cont’d)

3. Shear failure in the bolts.

Pu
Pu
 Failure Modes in Bolted Connections
(Cont’d)

4a. Tear out (or shear out) failure in the connected member
due to bearing on the exterior bolt (in Bearing Type
Connections Only).

torn out segement of the

top plate end occurs if end
distance Le is too small

Pu Pu

Le
 Failure Modes in Bolted Connections
(Cont’d)

4b. Bearing failure in the connected member due to bearing on

interior bolts (in Bearing Type Connections Only).

bearing failure in the top plate

(affected by bolt spacing s)
s

Pu Pu
 Design Strength of Bolted Connections
Based on Bolt Shear
Rn ≥ Pu
where: Rn = factored strength of the connection
= 0.75 Fnv Ab Ns Nb
in which:  = 0.75 ( LRFD, pp. 16.1-108),
Ab = gross area of bolt cross section =  d2/4
d = gross diameter of bolt (shank diameter)
Fnv = nominal shear strength of the bolt (Table J3.2
pp. 16.1-104 LRFD manual)
Nb = No. of bolts transmitting the force
Ns = No. of shear planes in each bolt.
Number of Shear Planes (Ns)

Single Lap-splice
(bolts are in single shear: Ns = 1)
Number of Shear Planes (Ns) (Cont’d)

Double Lap-splice
(bolts are in double shear: Ns = 2)
 Example (1)

In the shown bearing-type bolted connection, the tension member is

a pair of L3.5x3x0.25 and the gusset plate is 0.5” thick. The member
and the gusset plate are made of A36 steel. Both of the member and
the gusset plate are to be connected using 0.875” diameter A325N
bolts. Using Le =2.0” and s = 3.0”, find the number of bolts (based
on bolt shear only) required to transfer a factored tensile load:
Pu = 150 kips.
2L 3 1/2 x 3 x 1/4

1.5"
3.5"
2" 2"

s Le
0.5" 3"
2" 3" 3" 2"
 Example (1) (Cont’d)
Solution:
??
Rn = 0.75 Fnv Ab Ns Nb

• From Table J3.2 (pp. 16.1-104) for A325N bolts: Fnv = 48 ksi

• For a 7/8”-diameter bolt:

Ab= (d)2/4 =  (0.875)2 /4 = 0.6013 in2

• Rn/bolt=  Fnv Ab Ns = 0.75*48*0.6013*2 = 43.29 kips/bolt

 Example (1) (Cont’d)
Solution:
Rn = 0.75 Fnv Ab Ns Nb

• Rn/bolt=  Fnv Ab Ns = 0.75*48*0.6013*2 = 43.29 kips/bolt

• For the bolt group, the design requirement is:

(Rn /bolt) x Nb ≥ ( Pu = 150 kips )

Nb ≥ 150 kips/(43.29 kips/bolt) = 3.5 bolts

Therefore, use 4 bolts.

 Design Strength of Bolted Connections
Based on Bolt Shear (Cont’d)
2. In Friction-Type Connection:
Rn ≥ Pu

where: Rn =   Du hscTb Ns Nb (LRFD, J3.8, pp. 16.1-109)

in which:  = 1.00 (if no-slip is a serviceability limit state), or

 = 0.85 (if no-slip is a strength limit state)
 = mean slip coefficient
= 0.35 for unpainted clean mill surface (class A surface)
= 0.50 for unpainted blast-cleaned steel (class B surface)
Du = a multiplier representing the ratio between the
actual installation pretension to the specified
minimum bolt pretension = 1.13
 Design Strength of Bolted Connections
Based on Bolt Shear (Cont’d)
2. In Friction-Type Connection:
Rn ≥ Pu
where: Rn =   Du hscTb Ns Nb (LRFD, J3.8, pp. 16.1-109)
in which: hsc = hole factor
= 1.0 (for standard size holes)
= 0.85 (for oversized and short-slotted holes)
= 0.70 (for long-slotted holes)
Tb = minimum bolt pretension (provided by LRFD
Table J3.1 pp. 16.1-103)
Nb = No. of bolts transmitting the force
Ns = No. of shear planes in each bolt.
 Design Strength of Bolted Connections
Based on Bearing at the Bolt Hole
1. Tear Out at the bolt hole nearest the free end (i.e. for the last
bolt hole in the gauge line) torn out segment of the
top plate end occurs if end
 = 0.75 distance Le is too small

Rn / bolt = 1.2 Lc t Fu  2.4 d t Fu Pu Pu

where: d = bolt diameter L e

Fu = tensile strength of the connected material Le

t = thickness of the critical connected part

Lc = clear distance, in the direction of the force, between the
edge of the hole and the edge of the material = Le - dh/2
Design Strength of Bolted Connections
Based on Bearing at the Bolt Hole
 Design Strength of Bolted Connections
Based on Bearing at the Bolt Hole (Cont’d)
2. Bearing at the other bolt holes
bearing failure in the top plate
(i.e. for any interior bolt hole): (affected by bolt spacing s)
s

 = 0.75 Pu Pu
Rn / bolt = 1.2 Lc t Fu  2.4 d t Fu
where: d = bolt diameter
Fu = tensile strength of the connected material
t = thickness of the critical connected part
Lc = clear distance, in the direction of the force, between the
edge of the hole and the edge of the adjacent hole
= S - dh
Design Strength of Bolted Connections
Based on Bearing at the Bolt Hole
 Design Strength of Bolted Connections
Based on Bearing at the Bolt Hole (Cont’d)
How to identify t (the thickness of the critical connected part) ?

In case Lc is equal for both connected elements [member and gusset

plate]  t = the smaller of gusset plate thickness or member thickness

Example: for a double angle connection:

t is the smaller of ([Link].) and (2*tangle)
 General Specifications of
Bolted Connections
• The minimum edge distance Le is Pu

given in Table J3.4, pp. 16.1-107.

• LRFD specs. recommend that s ≥ 3d, and Le ≥1.5d (rounded off to

the nearest ¼ in).
12 t critical connected part 
• The maximum edge distance Le = the smaller of  
6" 
• Minimum spacing between bolts in any direction is 2.67d on the
center (LRFD – J3 pp. 16.1-106).
24 t critical connected part 
• The maximum spacing S = the smaller of  
12" 
Minimum Edge Distance
 Example (2)
In the shown bearing-type bolted connection, the tension member is
a pair of L3.5x3x0.25 and the gusset plate is 0.5” thick. The member
and the gusset plate are made of A36 steel. Both of the member and
the gusset plate are to be connected using 3 A325N bolts of 7/8”
diameter. Using Le =2.0” and s = 3.0”, Check the adequacy of the
factored bearing resistance of the connection to withstand a
factored tensile load: Pu = 100 kips.

2L 3 1/2 x 3 x 1/4

1.5"
3.5"
2" 2"

s Le
0.5" 3"
2" 3" 3" 2"
 Example (2) (Cont’d)
Solution:
Tear out strength (for the outer bolt hole in each gauge line):
• For the Tension Member:
Le= 2” & 2tangle= 2*¼ = ½”

• For the Gusset Plate:

Le= 2” & [Link].= ½”

• Both elements are equally critical for tear out,

therefore use tmin.= ½” and Le= 2” .

Note: if “Le& 2tangle” for the two angles are different from the Le &
[Link] for the gusset plate, both tear out strength should be
calculated and the minimum should be used.
 Example (2) (Cont’d)
Tear out strength (for the outer bolt hole in each gauge line):

0.75 (1.2 Lc t Fu)

 Rn/bolt = smaller of
0.75 (2.4 d t Fu)

Lc = Le – dh/2 = 2.0 – (7/8 + 1/8)/2 = 1.5”

 Example (2) (Cont’d)
Tear out strength (for the outer bolt hole in each gauge line):

0.75 (1.2*1.5*0.5*58) = 39.15 kips

 Rn/bolt = smaller of
0.75 (2.4*7/8*0.5*58) = 45.675 kips

Thus:

 Rn/outer bolt = 39.15 kips

 Example (2) (Cont’d)
Bearing Strength (for each of the inner bolt holes):
• For the Tension Member:
S = 3” & 2tangle= 2*¼ = ½”

• For the Gusset Plate:

S = 3” & [Link].= ½”

• Both elements are equally critical for bearing,

therefore use tmin.= ½” and S = 3” .
 Example (2) (Cont’d)
Bearing Strength (for each of the inner bolt holes):

0.75 (1.2 Lc t Fu)

 Rn/bolt = smaller of
0.75 (2.4 d t Fu)

Lc = S – dh = 3.0 – (7/8 + 1/8) = 2.0”

 Example (2) (Cont’d)
Bearing strength (for the outer bolt hole in each gauge line):

0.75 (1.2*2.0*0.5*58) = 52.2 kips

 Rn/bolt = smaller of
0.75 (2.4*7/8*0.5*58) = 45.675 kips

Thus:

 Rn/inner bolt = 45.675 kips

 Example (2) (Cont’d)
Finally, for bearing failure in the connection:

39.15 kips (Tear out)

 Rn/bolt = smaller of = 39.15 kips
45.675 kips (Bearing)

Thus:

 Rn = 3*39.15 = 117.45 kips

 Rn = 117.45 kips > Pu = 100 kips

>>> The connection is safe in bearing
Design of Connecting Elements in Bolted
Connections of Tension Members
• If the tension member is connected to a gusset plate, then the
design strength of the gusset plate is the lowest of the following
failure modes:

1) Yielding on Ag: Rn = 0.9 Fy Ag

2) Tensile Rupture on An: Rn = 0.75 Fu An

in which An = (Ags – Aholes)  0.85 Ag
Design of Connecting Elements in Bolted
Connections of Tension Members
3) Block Shear Rupture:

0.75 (0.6 Fu Anv + Ubs Fu Ant )

t Rn = smaller of
0.75 (0.6 Fy Agv + Ubs Fu Ant )

 Finally, for a safe design, we should have: Rn ≥ Pu

 Example (3)
Connecting Elements in Bolted Connections
In the shown bearing-type bolted connection, the tension member is a
pair of L3.5x3x0.25 and the gusset plate is 0.5” thick and 6” wide.
Both of the member and the gusset plate are made of A36 steel.
The member and the gusset plate are to be connected using 0.75”
diameter A325N bolts. Using Le =2.0” and s = 3.0”, do you consider
the gusset plate to be safe under a factored tensile load Pu = 100 kips?
 Example (3) (Cont’d)
Tensile Strength of the Gusset Plate:

1) Based on Yielding on Ag:

Ag = 6.0 * 0.5 = 3.0 in2
Rn = 0.9 Fy Ag = 0.9 * 36.0 * 3.0 = 97.2 kips
 Example (3) (Cont’d)
Tensile Strength of the Gusset Plate:

2) Based on Tensile Rupture on An:

An = min [Ag - Aholes, 0.85 Ag]
An = min [3.0 – (0.75 + 1/8) * 0.5, 0.85 * 3.0]
An = min [2.563, 2.55] = 2.55 in2
Rn = 0.75 Fu An = 0.75 * 58.0 * 2.55 = 110.93 kips
1

Pu

1
 Example (3) (Cont’d)
3) Block Shear Rupture:
Agt = 2.5 * 0.5 = 1.25 in2
Agv = 8.0 * 0.5 = 4.0 in2
Ant = 1.25 – 0.5 * (0.75+1/8) * 0.5 = 1.031 in2
Anv = 4.0 – 2.5 * (0.75+1/8) * 0.5 = 2.906 in2

Pu 2
 Example (3) (Cont’d)
3) Block Shear Rupture:
Agv = 4.0 in2 & Anv = 2.906 in2 & Ant = 1.031 in2

0.75 (0.6 Fu Anv + Ubs Fu Ant )

t Rn = smaller of
0.75 (0.6 Fy Agv + Ubs Fu Ant )

t Rn = 109.65 kips
 Example (3) (Cont’d)
Rn = 97.2 kips (based on yielding)  critical
Rn = 110.93 kips (based on tensile rupture)
Rn = 109.65 kips (based on block-shear rupture)

Therefore, the tensile strength of the gusset plate is

Rn = 97.2 kips
 Complete Design of Connection
In practice, if it was required to find the governing design
strength of the connection, then we should compute all of the
following:
• Rn based on Yielding on Ag of the member.
• Rn based on tensile rupture on Ae of the member.
• Rn based on BSR of the member.
• Rn based on Yielding on Ag of the gusset plate.
• Rn based on tensile rupture on An of the gusset plate.
• Rn based on BSR of the gusset plate.
• Rn based on shear strength of the bolt group.
• Rn based on bearing strength at the bolt holes.

And the governing design strength at the connection would be

the smallest from the above list!!