Steel structures Laboratory

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1. BOLTED CONNECTIONS
1.1 RANGE AND CLASS OF THE SCREW FASTENERS

Diameter of bolts for building structures: M10, M12, M16, M20, M24, M27, M30
Class of bolts:
3.6, 4.6, 4.8, 5.6, 5.8, 6.6, 8.8, 10.9, 12.9

high strength bolts

10.9
- 0.01 fu
- 0.1 fy/fu

Materials:
- low carbon steel
- carbon steel
- alloy steel (bolts class 8.8 and 10.9)

Methods of production
- hot or cold plastic working
- mechanical working
- mechanical and plastic working
- heat treatment (hardening + tempering) high
strength bolts

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Lecture 3: Bolted connections.
 Steel structures Laboratory
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Class of nuts:
4, 5, 8, 10, 12.

Bolts class high than 4.8 i 5.6 and nuts class 4 should be marked.

Tolerances for fasteners.

Depending on the accuracy of proper dimensions and geometrical and the surface roughness
three grades of making screws are being distinguished:
- high grade A
- mid - range grade B
- coarse grade C

In non preloaded connections are used bolts 4.8 i 5.6 grades (B) or (C):
d 20 mm 4.8
d > 20 mm 5.6
In preloaded connections are used high strength bolts 8.8 10.9 grade B (mid - range grade).

Washers

shim
washer
flat washer high strength washer

Drawing symbol of bolts

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Lecture 3: Bolted connections.
 Steel structures Laboratory
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1.2 CATEGORIES OF BOLTED CONNECTIONS

CATEGORY A: SHEAR CONNECTIONS BEARING TYPE

Shear connection external force direction is perpendicular to bolt axis.

External force is transferred by shear of the bolt shank or bearing bolts to connection element.

For simplification of the montage, the hole diameter is greater than nominal bolt diameter:
for d14 mm do=d+1 mm
for 16d24 mm do=d+2 mm
for 27d44 mm do=d+3 mm.

In elements bolt holes can be punched or drilled. During the punching a steel is deformed and its
plasticity is decreased along hole edge. Therefore punching is used for steel plates with
thickness less than t25 mm.

Nuts should be established so that marking the class is visible.

When the surface of element is drawn aside more than 3 from the perpendicular to the bolt
axis, the shim washer should be used.

Tightening of the bolts: connected elements should be cling together. Tolerance less than 2 mm
is acceptable if this is not give in design recommendations. Bolts should be manual tightening
till first point of resistance. First point of resistance is defined as a tightening nominal hand
wrench with one hand power.

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Lecture 3: Bolted connections.
 Steel structures Laboratory
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EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF THE BOLTS IN SHEAR CONNECTIONS

Class
of 4.8 5.6 10.9
bolts
Bolts
diameter M12 M16 M20 M24 M30 M20 M24 M27
number of
2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
washers
Length of
the bolts l, Range of the effective length for bolts , mm
mm
40 5 7.5 7.510
45 1012.5 12.515
50 1517.5 17.520 6 9 912
55 2022.5 22.525 1214 1417
60 1719 1922 610 1014 1016
65 2224 2427 1415 1519
70 2729 2932 1920 2024 812 1216 1620 2026 1218
75 3234 3437 2425 2529 1617 1721
80 3738 3942 2930 3036 2122 2228 914 2630 3036 1822 2228 1520
90 3640 4046 2832 3238 1419 1924 3640 4046 2832 3238 2025 2530
100 4650 5056 3842 4248 2429 2934 4650 5056 3842 4248 3035 3540
110 5660 6066 4852 5258 3439 3944 5660 6066 4852 5258 4045 4550
120 6670 7074 5862 6266 4449 4954 6670 7074 5862 6266 5055 5560
130 6670 5458 7478 6672 6064
140 5863 6368 7276 7680 6469 6974
150 7479 7984
160

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Lecture 3: Bolted connections.