Worked Bolted-Connection Examples

Table-value rule

The numerical bolt stresses and pretensions in project design must come from the adopted AISC/RCSC edition for the selected ASTM F3125 grade/group, diameter, thread condition, and joint category. The examples below emphasize the calculation structure rather than treating one historical table value as timeless.

Example 1: Bolt Shear with a Supplied Tabulated Stress

Four bolts have nominal bolt area Ab=0.442 in2A_b=0.442\text{ in}^2, one shear plane each, and the adopted table gives Fnv=54 ksiF_{nv}=54\text{ ksi} for the specified bolt/thread condition. For the stated example take LRFD ϕ=0.75\phi=0.75.

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Example 2: End and Interior Bearing Use Different Clear Distances

A straight line has four 3/4 in bolts, hole diameter dh=13/16 in=0.8125 ind_h=13/16\text{ in}=0.8125\text{ in}, end edge distance 1.50 in, spacing 3.00 in, plate thickness 0.50 in, and Fu=58 ksiF_u=58\text{ ksi}.

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Example 3: Whole-Connection Strength Is Not n Times Bolt Strength

A bolt group passes bolt shear, but the connected plate has a small net section and short block-shear path.

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Example 4: Slip-Critical Joint

A splice must prevent slip. The bolts are pretensioned and the faying-surface class is specified.

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Example 5: Combined Bolt Shear and Tension

A bolt carries both shear and direct tension from a hanger/end-plate action.

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Example 6: Eccentric Bolt Group

A vertical load PP acts 6 in from the centroid of a five-bolt vertical group.

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Example 7: Prying Action

A flexible tee flange transfers 80 kips of tension through four bolts. Connection analysis determines an additional prying force of 8 kips per bolt.

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Example 8: Seismic Bolted Connection Scope

An ordinary bearing-type bolt calculation passes for a connection that is part of the seismic force-resisting system.

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Key Takeaways
  • Exact bolt stresses, pretensions, slip coefficients, and hole factors are adopted-edition inputs.
  • End and interior bolts use different clear-distance geometry.
  • Connected-part failure can govern even when every bolt passes.
  • Slip-critical joints still require applicable strength checks.
  • Eccentricity and prying change bolt demand before strength interaction is evaluated.