Bolt Group Coefficient for Eccentric Loads

Introduction
This application calculates the bolt coefficient for eccentrically loaded bolt groups using the
Instantaneous Center of Rotation method (also known as the Ultimate Strength method).

The bolt coefficient C is the ratio of the factored force (or available strength) of the bolt group Pu
and the shear capacity of a single bolt frn,
Pu
C=
frn
Once the coefficient is known, a bolt group can be designed for any load.

Traditionally, bolt group coefficients are extracted by using tabulated values in the AISC Steel
Construction Manual. However, these tables are limited to common bolt patterns, and specific load
eccentricities and angles. Non-tabulated values must be extracted by using linear interpolation.

This Maple worksheet, however, calculates the bolt group coefficient for any bolt and load
configuration by implementing the theory used to generate the tables.

The results agree with those presented in AISC Manual of Steel Construction: Load and Resistance
Factor Design, 2nd Edition.

> restart :

Parameters
The following commands define the bolt locations and plot them.
> boltLoc d K1.5 K3 , 1.5 K3 , K1.5 0 , 1.5 0 , K1.5 3 , 1.5 3 :
> plot boltLoc, style = point, symbol = solidcircle, symbolsize = 40
 3

K1.5 K1 K0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5

K1

K2

K3

The shear strength of a single bolt (kip):

> frn d 21.60 :

The horizontal component of force eccentricity with respect to the centroid of bolt group (in):
> eh d 2 :

Force angle to horizontal axis (deg):

75 p
> bd
180.0
b d 1.308996939 (2.1)

Calculations
Translate the bolt locations so that the centroid is at the origin.
> X d boltLoc .., 1 K~Statistics:-Mean boltLoc .., 1 :
Y d boltLoc .., 2 K~Statistics:-Mean boltLoc .., 2 :
The eccentricity:
> e d eh sin b
e d 1.931851653 (3.1)
Adjusted beta:
b eO0
> bd
b C0.5 p otherwise
b d 1.308996939 (3.2)
Instantaneous center of rotation (ICR):
> X0 d L0, m0 1KL0 sin b Km0 cos b :
> Y0 d L0, m0 1 L0 cos b Km0 sin b :

Bolt angle to ICR (rad):

> q d L0, m0 /arctan~ Y -~ Y0 L0, m0 , X -~ X0 L0, m0 -~ Pi/ 2 :

Bolt distance to ICR (inches):

~2 ~2 ~0.5
> d d L0, m0 / X K~X0 L0, m0 C YK~Y0 L0, m0 :
dmax d L0, m /max d L0, m0 :

Bolt displacement (inches) from Crawford and Kulak (1971):

d L0, m0
> Delta d L0, m0 / $0.34 :
~dmax L0, m0

Load-deformation relationship from Crawford and Kulak (1971):

0.55
K10$D L , m
0 0
> R d L0, m0 /frn$ 1 K~e :
10$d L , m ~0.55
0 0
~ K $0.34
~dmax L , m
0 0
> Rn d L0, m0 / 1 K~e :

Optimization
The sums of the bolt forces in the vertical and horizontal directions are equal to the applied shear
and axial loads.
> forceX d P0, m0, L0 /P0$sin beta Cadd i, i in Rn L0, m0 $~sin~ q L0, m0 :
forceY d P0, m0, L0 /P0$cos beta Cadd i, i in Rn L0, m0 $~cos~ q L0, m0 :
The moment of the bolt forces about the ICR is equal to the moment of the applied load.
> moment d P0, m0, L0 /P0$ L0 Ce Kadd i, i in Rn L0, m0 $~d L0, m0 :

The least squares solution to the three balance equations:

2 2
> res d Optimization:-Minimize forceX P0, m0, L0 CforceY P0, m0, L0 Cmoment P0, m0,
2
L0 , 0 % P0,Ke % L0 , iterationlimit = 200
res d 9.75024564308638301 10K15, L0 = 3.58864965454563, P0 = 4.46665769665432, m0 (4.1)
= K0.183532617971935

Results
Factored force on bolt group (kips):
> Pu d eval P0 frn, res2
Pu d 96.4798062477334 (5.1)

Bolt coefficient:
Pu
> Cd
frn
C d 4.46665769665432 (5.2)

References
Behavior of eccentrically loaded bolted connections, Crawford S. F., Kulak, G. L. (1968)
AISC Manual of Steel Construction: Load and Resistance Factor Design 2nd Edition
http://www.bgstructuralengineering.com/BGSCM14/BGSCM004/BGSCM00403.htm
https://engineering.purdue.edu/~jliu/courses/CE591/PDF/CE591eccentric_shear_F13.pdf

Legal Notice: © Maplesoft, a division of Waterloo Maple Inc. 2017. Maplesoft and Maple are
trademarks of Waterloo Maple Inc. This application may contain errors and Maplesoft is not liable
for any damages resulting from the use of this material. This application is intended for non-
commercial, non-profit use only. Contact Maplesoft for permission if you wish to use this
application in for-profit activities.