CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 1 OF 21

OBJECTIVES
1. Introduce simple connections
2. Consider LRFD design limit states for bolted connections
READING
Segui Text 7.1 - 7.11

OVERVIEW OF CONNECTIONS
Majority of structural failures are due to inadequate connection design
Steel fabricators often design connections, but the structural engineering is still responsible
for overall design
Modern connections are bolted and/or welded (previously used rivets)

Chapter J Design of connections

J2 welds
J3 bolts & threaded parts
J4 affected elements of members and connecting members
Part 7, 8, 9 Tables for bolts, welds, and connecting elements
RCSC (Research Council on Structural Connections) specification for structural joints
using high-strength bolts (pg 16.2-1 to 16.2-86)
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 2 OF 21

EXAMPLES OF COMMON CONNECTIONS

(1) Tension Connections
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 3 OF 21

(2) Beam-column Connections

(3) Bracket Connections

CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 4 OF 21

SIMPLE CONNECTIONS
The line of action of a force passes through the center of gravity of the connection

Center of Gravity
of the Connection

Can be bolted or welded connections

BOLT CATEGORIES
1. Common Bolt
o ASTM A307
o Rarely used today
2. High Strength Bolt
o Higher ultimate strength
o Can be tightened to produce a predictable
tension in the bolt
Group A
ASTM A325, F1852, A352, A354 Gr. B& C, A449
Group B
ASTM A490, F2280, A354 Gr. BD
~ higher ultimate strength
F1852, F2280 twist off ends
Often design assuming group A then if too many bolts required for the space switch to group b
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 5 OF 21
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 6 OF 21

TYPES OF BOLTED CONNECTIONS & JOINTS

BEARING CONNECTIONS:
Only consider shear & bearing limit states
Joints are SNUG-Tightened or pretensioned
SLIP-CRITICAL CONNECTIONS:
Rely on friction to transmit service loads (Enhances the fatigue life of the bolt)
In addition to shear & bearing, must check friction strength
Joints Are slip-critical

WHAT JOINT TYPE SHOULD YOU SPECIFY? (AISC SPECIFICATION J3.1)

AISC Specification for structural joints using high-strength bolts
SNUG-TIGHTENED (SECTION 4.1)
Any connection where one of following two types are not required
PRETENSIONED (SECTION 4.2)
Joints with
o Significant load reversal
o Subjected to fatigue load with no load reversal
SLIP-CRITICAL (SECTION 4.3)
Joints with
o Subjected to fatigue load with load reversal
o Subjected that use oversized or slotted holes
LIMIT STATES FOR BOLTED CONNECTIONS
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 7 OF 21

BEARING FAILURE
APPLIED
FORCE

PRETENSION

LOSS OF FRICTION SHEAR FAILURE OF

BETWEEN PLATES BOLT SECTION
APPLIED
FORCE

PRETENSION

Other connection failure modes

Gross yield of connection
elements
Net section fracture of
connection elements
Block shear of connection
elements
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 8 OF 21

SHEAR STRENGTH
Dependent on the fastener
AISC LRFD requires
= 0.75
Different loading cases affect the nominal strength

Where
= Unthreaded cross-sectional area
2
= (Nominal bolt area)
4

= Nominal shear strength (depends on where threads are with respect to the shear plane)

THREADS IN THREADS
PLANE OF SHEAR EXCLUDED FROM
N TYPE PLANE OF SHEAR
X TYPE

See Table J3.2

If it is unknown whether the thread are excluded from the shear plane use the lower shear
strength
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 9 OF 21

BEARING STRENGTH
Independent of fastener type
Can result in shear tear out due to excessive bearing or excessive hole elongation

AISC LRFD requires

= 0.75
Nominal bearing strength
AISC Spec.
= 1.2 2.4
J3-6a

Where
= clear distance parallel to force between the edge of the hole & edge of adjacent hole
or edge of connection

= 2 (Edge bolt) (1)

= (other bolt) (2)

= hole diameter = + 1/16
= thickness of connection material
= ultimate tensile strength of connection material
= bolt diameter
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 10 OF 21

SLIP-CRITICAL CONNECTIONS
AISC LRFD requires
= 1.0

For standard holes designed on basis of serviceability limit state for slip
Nominal Slip Resistance

AISC Spec.
=
J3-4

= slip coefficient = 0.30 for Class A surface (unpainted clean millscale)

= 1.13 (variability in pretension)
= 1.0 no filler

Filler plates sometimes used to bring elements into alignment we will assume no fillers
for all problems in this class
= # of slip planes
= minimum bolt pretension (Table J3.1)
Depends on size and type of bolt

Adequate pre-tensioning can be achieved by different means

Turn-of-the-nut method
o Accounts for fact that the bolt elongates as nut is turned uses stress-strain
relationship
Calibrated wrench
Twist off bolts
Direct tension indicators
o Washers with protrusions that are crushed and then feeler gage is used
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 11 OF 21

SPACING & EDGE DISTANCE

Ensures clearance between nuts and provides room for the wrench socket (AISC J3)
1. Spacing between fasteners, (Center-to-center) (J3.3)
2
Min in any direction 2 3

Preferably no less than 3

Max spacing (J3.5) - limits moisture entering the joint
Painted or unpainted (no corrosion)
24 12"
Unpainted weathering steel
14 7"
2. Edge, distance in any direction, (J3.4)
Min is a function of the bolt size (Table J3.4)
Max 12 6"
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 12 OF 21

EXAMPLE 1
A thick steel plate (A36) transmits a tensile factored load of 75 kips to a gusset plate (t = 3/8
A36 steel). Determine how many bolts are required assuming they are arranged in two rows. Use
A325 diameter bolts. Slip is permitted.
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 13 OF 21
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 14 OF 21

EXAMPLE 2
Design the connection between a C6x13 member and a 3/8 gusset plate. The gusset plate and C-
section are both A36 steel. Use A325 7/8 diameter bolts and design the connection be slip
critical. = 14.2 & = 50.0 .
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 15 OF 21
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 16 OF 21

SIMPLE WELDED CONNECTIONS

Parts connected by heating and fusing with supplementary molten metal added to the joint
COMPLETE & PARTIAL PENETRATION GROOVE WELD

Groove welds (full) are considered completely continuous at joint

(no special design of weld needed)
FILLET WELD
Material deposited in corner made by two connection pieces

PLUG OR SLOT WELDS

CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 17 OF 21

Shield metal arc welding (SMAW) can be done in the field

(Submerged arc welding (SAW) often done in shop)

Will focus on fillet welds for this class

FILLET WELDS
Assume that failure occurs in the shear along a plane through the throat of the weld

w w

Nominal shear strength of weld

CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 18 OF 21

= 0.707
Where
= fillet weld strength
= 0.60

The weld metal is a function of the electrode given by

E YY XX
YY = ultimate strength
XX = coating type
USE E70XX if < 60

USE E80XX if = 60 65

SHEAR STRENGTH OF BASE METAL

Specification also requires that the shear stress on the base material not exceed the capacity
For yielding:
= 1.0
= 0.6

For rupture:
= 0.75
= 0.6
Note: also must check block shear
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 19 OF 21

SIZE (W) REQUIREMENTS

Min is a function of the thickness of the thinner connected part (Table J2.4)
o Smaller welds are more economical but will require longer lengths
o Max in a single pass = 5/16

Material Thickness of Min Fillet Size

Thinner Part

1/4" 1/8

1/4" 1/2" 3/16

1/2" 3/4" 1/4

> 3/4" 5/16

Max fillet weld size

Material Thickness of Max Fillet Size

Thinner Part

< 1/4" t

1/4" t 1/16
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 20 OF 21

LENGTH REQUIREMENT
Minimum is
o Four times the nominal weld size (4)
o For a plate with 2 parallel longitudinal welds:
width of plate ()

There is no max limit

End returns may be used to avoid stress concentrations
o Also ensures full size weld over whole length
o End Return length is 2 to 4 times
CE 163 SIMPLE CONNECTIONS 21 OF 21

WELD SYMBOLS
Fillet weld symbol
On bottom = weld on side arrow touches

Weld Weld
size length
Weld all
around

Typ.

Do not
change order
6
E70xx
6

Weld on Added
both sides requirement

Field
Weld Bevel
Weld

E-70
5 (Typ.)

Plug or slot weld

Shop
Weld

Flush
10