SUST

College of Engineering
School of Civil Engineering
4th Class (Semester 8)
18-Nov-21

Design of Steel Structures

British Standards (BS 5950-1:2000)

Section-5:
Bolted Connections
(non-preloaded bolts in standard clearance holes)

Eng. Nyazi Tawfeeg

 Design of Steel Structures (BS 5950-1:2000) Bolted Connections
Example 1 (Lap connection – Direct Shear)

The steel connection shown is subjected to a pull load (𝑃) consists of 40 𝑘𝑁 dead load and
25 𝑘𝑁 live load. The connection is made to connect two plate members of steel grade 𝑆355
with 20 𝑚𝑚 thickness using 𝑛𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑 bolts grade 8.8 with 16 𝑚𝑚 diameter. Check
the adequacy of connection assuming that the shear is applied at the shank of bolt, and the
plate members are cut by machine flame.

(𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑚)

Solution:
1) Distance requirements:
1.1 Bolt spacing: [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑠 6.2.1.1 & 6.2.1.2]
𝑑 ≡ 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟.
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 2.5𝑑 ≤ 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 ≤ 14𝑡 |
𝑡 ≡ 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡.
2.5(16) 𝑣𝑠 (𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 50) 𝑣𝑠 14(20)
40 𝑚𝑚 < 50 𝑚𝑚 < 280 𝑚𝑚 ___ 𝑆𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦
1.2 Edge or end distance: [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑠 6.2.2.4 & 6.2.2.5]
𝐷 ≡ 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 [𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 33].

𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 1.25𝐷 ≤ (𝐸𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝐸𝑛𝑑) ≤ 11𝑡𝜀 || 𝜀 = √275/𝑝𝑦 ; 𝑝𝑦 → [𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 9]

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 1.25 𝑖𝑠 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑡 𝑏𝑦
𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 1.4 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑡.

1.25(18) 𝑣𝑠 (𝐸𝑑𝑔𝑒 = 35) 𝑣𝑠 11(20)√275/345

22.5 𝑚𝑚 < 35 𝑚𝑚 < 196 𝑚𝑚 ___ 𝑆𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦
22.5 𝑚𝑚 < (𝐸𝑛𝑑 = 25𝑚𝑚) < 196 𝑚𝑚 ___ 𝑆𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦
2) Ultimate design load (𝑃):
𝑃 = 1.4𝐺𝑘 + 1.6𝑄𝑘 = 1.4(40) + 1.6(25) = 96 𝑘𝑁
3) Direct shear force (𝐹𝑠 ) & bearing force (𝐹𝑏 ):
𝑃 96 𝑛 ≡ 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡.
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑛×𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑠 = 2×1 = 48 𝑘𝑁 |
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟, 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑠 = 1

𝐹𝑏 = 𝑃/𝑛 = 96/2 = 48 𝑘𝑁
4) Shear capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑠 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.2]
𝑝𝑠 → [𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 30].
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡, 𝐴𝑠 = 𝐴
|
𝑃𝑠 = 𝑝𝑠 𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡, 𝐴𝑠 = 𝐴𝑡
Eng. Nyazi Tawfeeg

|
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡
𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑜𝑙𝑡).

𝑃𝑠 = 375 × 201 × 10−3 = 75.3 𝑘𝑁 > (𝐹𝑠 = 48 𝑘𝑁) ___ 𝑜𝑘

2 of 10
 Design of Steel Structures (BS 5950-1:2000) Bolted Connections
5) Bearing capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑏𝑏 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.3.2]
𝑝𝑏𝑏 → [𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 31].
𝑃𝑏𝑏 = 𝑝𝑏𝑏 𝑑𝑡 |
𝑡 ≡ 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡.

𝑃𝑏𝑏 = 1000 × 16 × 20 × 10−3 = 320 𝑘𝑁 > (𝐹𝑏 = 48 𝑘𝑁) ___ 𝑜𝑘

6) Bearing capacity of plate (𝑃𝑏𝑠 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.3.3]
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒, 𝑘𝑏𝑠 = 1
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑦𝑝𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑒 [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.3.3].
𝑃𝑏𝑠 = 𝑘𝑏𝑠 𝑝𝑏𝑠 𝑑𝑡 ≤ 𝑘𝑏𝑠 𝑝𝑏𝑠 (𝑒/2)𝑡 |
𝑝𝑏𝑏 → [𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 32].
𝑒 ≡ 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒.
(𝑑 = 16𝑚𝑚) > (𝑒/2 = 25/2 = 12.5𝑚𝑚) ___ 𝑢𝑠𝑒 (𝑒/2)
𝑃𝑏𝑠 = 550 × 12.5 × 20 × 10−3 = 137.5 𝑘𝑁 > (𝐹𝑏 = 48 𝑘𝑁) ___ 𝑜𝑘
7) Block shear capacity (𝑃𝑟 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.2.4]
𝐿𝑣 ≡ 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 [𝐹𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 22].
𝐿 ≡ 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 [𝐹𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 22].
| 𝑡
𝐾𝑒 ⇒ 1.2 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑆275 ; 1.1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑆355 ; 1.0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑆460.
𝑃𝑟 = 0.6𝑝𝑦 𝑡[𝐿𝑣 + 𝐾𝑒 (𝐿𝑡 − 𝑘𝐷𝑡 )] 𝑘 ≡ 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑠:
0.5 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠.
|
1.5 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠.
𝐷𝑡 ≡ 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒.

𝐿𝑣 = 50 + 25 = 75 𝑚𝑚 , 𝐿𝑡 = 35 𝑚𝑚 , 𝐾𝑒 = 1.1 , 𝑘 = 0.5 , 𝐷𝑡 = 18 𝑚𝑚
𝑃𝑟 = 0.6 × 345 × 20[75 + 1.1(35 − 0.5 × 18)] × 10−3 = 428.9 𝑘𝑁 > (𝑃 = 96 𝑘𝑁) ___ 𝑜𝑘
8) Tension capacity of plate (𝑃𝑡 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 4.6]
𝑃𝑡 = 𝑝𝑦 𝐴𝑒 = 𝑝𝑦 𝐾𝑒 𝐴𝑛 (𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑, 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑)
𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝐴𝑒 ≤ 𝐴𝑔
= 345 × 1.1 × 20(70 − 18)10−3 = 394.7 𝑘𝑁 > (𝑃 = 96 𝑘𝑁) ___ 𝑜𝑘 ( )
1144 < 1400

Example 2 (Butt connection – Direct Shear)

The figure shows a steel connection made of two

cover plates (8 𝑚𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ) and group of
𝑛𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑 bolts with 4.6 grade and 12 𝑚𝑚
diameter. Using the design data shown, calculate the
ultimate load (𝑃) that could safely be sustained by the
lower plate member.
𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑚 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑒
𝑐𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 (ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒).

Solution:

1) Distance requirements:
1.1 Bolt spacing: [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑠 6.2.1.1 & 6.2.1.2]
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 2.5𝑑 ≤ 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 ≤ 14𝑡
Eng. Nyazi Tawfeeg

2.5(12) 𝑣𝑠 (𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 35) 𝑣𝑠 14(8)

30 𝑚𝑚 < 35 𝑚𝑚 < 112 𝑚𝑚 ___ 𝑆𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦

3 of 10
 Design of Steel Structures (BS 5950-1:2000) Bolted Connections
1.2 Edge or end distance: [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑠 6.2.2.4 & 6.2.2.5]
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 1.4𝐷 ≤ (𝐸𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝐸𝑛𝑑) ≤ 11𝑡𝜀 (𝑓𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑠 1.4)

1.4(13) 𝑣𝑠 (𝐸𝑑𝑔𝑒 = 25) 𝑣𝑠 11(8)√275/275

18.2 𝑚𝑚 < 25 𝑚𝑚 < 88 𝑚𝑚 ___ 𝑆𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦
18.2 𝑚𝑚 < (𝐸𝑛𝑑 = 30𝑚𝑚) < 88 𝑚𝑚 ___ 𝑆𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦
2) Direct shear force (𝐹𝑠 ) & bearing force (𝐹𝑏 ):
𝑃 𝑃 𝑛 = 4 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡.
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑛×𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑠 = 4×2 = 0.125𝑃 (
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑜𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟, 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑠 = 2
)

𝐹𝑏 = 𝑃/𝑛 = 𝑃/4 = 0.25𝑃

3) Shear capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑠 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.2]
𝑃𝑠 = 𝑝𝑠 𝐴𝑠
𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑡
𝑃𝑠 = 160 × 84.3 × 10−3 = 13.5 𝑘𝑁 ≥ (𝐹𝑠 = 0.125𝑃) (
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡
)

𝑃 ≤ 13.5/0.125 = 108 𝑘𝑁 (𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠)

4) Bearing capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑏𝑏 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.3.2]

𝑃𝑏𝑏 = 𝑝𝑏𝑏 𝑑𝑡
(2 𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 = 8 + 8 = 16𝑚𝑚) > (𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 = 15𝑚𝑚) __ 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑡 = 15𝑚𝑚
𝑃𝑏𝑏 = 460 × 12 × 15 × 10−3 = 82.8 𝑘𝑁 ≥ (𝐹𝑏 = 0.25𝑃)
𝑃 ≤ 82.8/0.25 = 331.2 𝑘𝑁 (𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠)

5) Bearing capacity of plate (𝑃𝑏𝑠 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.3.3]

𝑃𝑏𝑠 = 𝑘𝑏𝑠 𝑝𝑏𝑠 𝑑𝑡 ≤ 𝑘𝑏𝑠 𝑝𝑏𝑠 (𝑒/2)𝑡 (𝑘𝑏𝑠 = 1)

(𝑑 = 12𝑚𝑚) < (𝑒/2 = 30/2 = 15𝑚𝑚) ___ 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑑

𝑃𝑏𝑠 = 460 × 12 × 15 × 10−3 = 82.8 𝑘𝑁 ≥ (𝐹𝑏 = 0.25𝑃)
𝑃 ≤ 331.2 𝑘𝑁 (𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠)

6) Block shear capacity (𝑃𝑟 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.2.4]

𝑃𝑟 = 0.6𝑝𝑦 𝑡[𝐿𝑣 + 𝐾𝑒 (𝐿𝑡 − 𝑘𝐷𝑡 )]
𝐿𝑣 = 35 + 30 = 65 𝑚𝑚 , 𝐿𝑡 = 45 + 25 = 70 𝑚𝑚 , 𝐾𝑒 = 1.2 , 𝑘 = 1.5 , 𝐷𝑡 = 13 𝑚𝑚
𝑃𝑟 = 0.6 × 275 × 15[65 + 1.2(70 − 1.5 × 13)] × 10−3 = 310.9 𝑘𝑁 ≥ 𝑃
𝑃 ≤ 310.9 𝑘𝑁 (𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠)

7) Tension capacity of plate (𝑃𝑡 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 4.6.1]

𝑃𝑡 = 𝑝𝑦 𝐴𝑒 = 𝑝𝑦 𝐾𝑒 𝐴𝑛
𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝐴𝑒 ≤ 𝐴𝑔
= 275 × 1.2 × 15(95 − 2 × 13)10−3 = 341.6 𝑘𝑁 ≥ 𝑃 ( )
1242 < 1425
𝑃 ≤ 341.6 𝑘𝑁
Eng. Nyazi Tawfeeg

(𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠)

𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 (𝑃) 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑦
𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 108 𝑘𝑁 .

4 of 10
 Design of Steel Structures (BS 5950-1:2000) Bolted Connections
Example 3 (Bracket connection – Direct Shear & Torsion)

The figure shows a steel bracket

connection used to support a steel beam.
The connection adequacy is to be
checked for supporting a beam load that
consists of 60 𝑘𝑁 dead and 80 𝑘𝑁 live
load (per one side bracket plate, 𝑃).
Considering the following design data
check the connection adequacy:

Bracket plates:
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒: 𝑆275
𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠: 15 𝑚𝑚

Bolts:
𝑇𝑦𝑝𝑒: 𝑁𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒: 4.6
𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟: 24 𝑚𝑚

𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑚.

Solution:

1) Ultimate design load (𝑃):

𝑃 = 1.4𝐺𝑘 + 1.6𝑄𝑘 = 1.4(60) + 1.6(80) = 212 𝑘𝑁
2) Direct shear force (𝐹𝑠 ):
𝑃 212
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑛 = = 17.67 𝑘𝑁
12

3) Torsional force (𝐹𝑡 ):

𝑃𝑒𝑟
𝐹𝑡 = ∑ 𝑥 2 +∑1𝑦 2

𝑒𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑒 = 525 𝑚𝑚

𝑟1 = √2502 + 1752 = 305.16 𝑚𝑚

∑ 𝑥 2 = 12(2502 ) = 750 000 𝑚𝑚2
∑ 𝑦 2 = 4(1752 + 1052 + 352 ) = 171 500 𝑚𝑚2
212×525×305.16
𝐹𝑡 = = 36.86 𝑘𝑁
750000+171500

4) Resultant force (𝐹𝑟 ):

cos 𝜃 = 𝑥/𝑟1 = 250/305.16 = 0.819
Eng. Nyazi Tawfeeg

𝐹𝑟 = √𝐹𝑠 2 + 𝐹𝑡 2 + 2𝐹𝑠 𝐹𝑡 cos 𝜃 = √17.672 + 36.862 + 2(17.67)(36.86)(0.819) = 52.33 𝑘𝑁

5 of 10
 Design of Steel Structures (BS 5950-1:2000) Bolted Connections
5) Shear capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑠 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.2]
𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑡
𝑃𝑠 = 𝑝𝑠 𝐴𝑠 = 160 × 353 × 10−3 = 56.48 𝑘𝑁 > (𝐹𝑟 = 52.33 𝑘𝑁) __ 𝑜𝑘 (
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡
)

6) Bearing capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑏𝑏 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.3.2]

𝑃𝑏𝑏 = 𝑝𝑏𝑏 𝑑𝑡
(𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 15𝑚𝑚) < (𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 254 × 254 𝑈𝐶 89, 𝑇 = 17.3𝑚𝑚) __ 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑡 = 15𝑚𝑚
𝑃𝑏𝑏 = 460 × 24 × 15 × 10−3 = 165.6 𝑘𝑁 > (𝐹𝑟 = 52.33 𝑘𝑁) __ 𝑜𝑘
7) Bearing capacity of plate (𝑃𝑏𝑠 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.3.3]
𝑃𝑏𝑠 = 𝑝𝑏𝑠 𝑑𝑡 ≤ 𝑝𝑏𝑠 (𝑒/2)𝑡
(𝑑 = 24𝑚𝑚) > (𝑒/2 = 45/2 = 22.5𝑚𝑚) ___ 𝑢𝑠𝑒 (𝑒/2)
𝑃𝑏𝑠 = 460 × 22.5 × 15 × 10−3 = 155.25 𝑘𝑁 > (𝐹𝑟 = 52.33 𝑘𝑁) __ 𝑜𝑘

Example 4 (Bracket connection – Direct Shear & Torsion)

Assuming that the shear stress is applied at the shank

of bolts, design a suitable bolt size (𝑑) for the bracket
connection shown. Use the following data:
Bracket plates: Bolts:
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒: 𝑆275 𝑇𝑦𝑝𝑒: 𝑁𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑
𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠: 10 𝑚𝑚 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒: 4.6
Loads (𝑃) per one bracket plate:
𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑: 55 𝑘𝑁
𝐿𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑: 30 𝑘𝑁
𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑚.

Solution:
1) Ultimate design load (𝑃):
𝑃 = 1.4𝐺𝑘 + 1.6𝑄𝑘 = 1.4(55) + 1.6(30) = 125 𝑘𝑁
2) Direct shear force (𝐹𝑠 ):
𝑃 125
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑛 = = 12.5 𝑘𝑁
10

3) Torsional force (𝐹𝑡 ):

𝑃𝑒𝑟
𝐹𝑡 = ∑ 𝑥 2 +∑1𝑦 2
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 305 × 305 𝑈𝐶 97 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
𝑒𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑒 = 150 + 305.3/2 = 302.7 𝑚𝑚 (𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝐵 = 305.3 𝑚𝑚. )
305.3
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑥 = − 50 = 102.7𝑚𝑚
2
𝑟1 = √102.72 + 1202 = 157.95 𝑚𝑚
∑ 𝑥 2 = 10(102.72 ) = 105 473 𝑚𝑚2
Eng. Nyazi Tawfeeg

∑ 𝑦 2 = 4(1202 + 602 + 0) = 72 000 𝑚𝑚2

125×302.7×157.95
𝐹𝑡 = = 33.68 𝑘𝑁
105473+72000

6 of 10
 Design of Steel Structures (BS 5950-1:2000) Bolted Connections
4) Resultant force (𝐹𝑟 ):
cos 𝜃 = 𝑥/𝑟1 = 102.7/157.95 = 0.650

𝐹𝑟 = √𝐹𝑠 2 + 𝐹𝑡 2 + 2𝐹𝑠 𝐹𝑡 cos 𝜃 = √12.52 + 33.682 + 2(12.5)(33.68)(0.65) = 42.87 𝑘𝑁

5) Shear capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑠 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.2]

𝜋𝑑2 𝜋𝑑 2
𝑃𝑠 = 𝑝𝑠 𝐴𝑠 = 160 × × 10−3 = 0.126𝑑 2 ≥ (𝐹𝑟 = 42.87𝑘𝑁) (𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘, 𝐴𝑠 = )
4 4

𝑑 ≥ √42.87/0.126 = 18.4 𝑚𝑚 (𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠)

6) Bearing capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑏𝑏 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.3.2]

𝑃𝑏𝑏 = 𝑝𝑏𝑏 𝑑𝑡
(𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 10𝑚𝑚) < (𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 305 × 305 𝑈𝐶 97, 𝑇 = 15.4𝑚𝑚) __ 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑡 = 10𝑚𝑚
𝑃𝑏𝑏 = 460 × 𝑑 × 10 × 10−3 = 4.6𝑑 ≥ (𝐹𝑟 = 42.87𝑘𝑁)
𝑑 ≥ 42.87/4.6 = 9.3 𝑚𝑚 (𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠)

7) Bearing capacity of plate (𝑃𝑏𝑠 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.3.3]

𝑃𝑏𝑠 = 𝑝𝑏𝑠 𝑑𝑡 ≤ 𝑝𝑏𝑠 (𝑒/2)𝑡
𝑑 ≤ (𝑒/2 = 50/2 = 25𝑚𝑚) (𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔)

𝑃𝑏𝑠 = 460 × 𝑑 × 10 × 10−3 = 4.6𝑑 ≥ (𝐹𝑟 = 42.87𝑘𝑁)

𝑑 ≥ 9.3 𝑚𝑚 (𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠)

𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑁𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 20 𝑚𝑚 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟

Example 5 (Bracket connection – Direct Shear & Tension)

The bracket connection shown in

the figure is to be checked for the
adequacy of bolts using the following
design data:
Bracket plates:
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒: 𝑆275
𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠: 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒
Bolts:
𝑇𝑦𝑝𝑒: 𝑁𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒: 4.6
𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟: 22 𝑚𝑚
Loads (𝑃):
𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑: 80 𝑘𝑁
Eng. Nyazi Tawfeeg

𝐿𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑: 75 𝑘𝑁

𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑚.

7 of 10
 Design of Steel Structures (BS 5950-1:2000) Bolted Connections
Solution: (𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑)
1) Ultimate design load (𝑃):
𝑃 = 1.4(80) + 1.6(75) = 232 𝑘𝑁
2) Direct shear force (𝐹𝑠 ):
𝑃 232
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑛 = = 23.2 𝑘𝑁
10

3) Tension force (𝐹𝑡 ):

𝑃𝑒𝑦
𝐹𝑡 = 2 ∑ 𝑦 12

𝑒𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑒 = 200 𝑚𝑚
𝑦1 = 280 𝑚𝑚
∑ 𝑦 2 = 2802 + 2102 + 1402 + 702 = 147 000 𝑚𝑚2
232×200×280
𝐹𝑡 = = 44.19 𝑘𝑁
2×147000

4) Shear capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑠 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.2]

𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑡
𝑃𝑠 = 𝑝𝑠 𝐴𝑠 = 160 × 303 × 10−3 = 48.48 𝑘𝑁 > (𝐹𝑠 = 23.2 𝑘𝑁) __ 𝑜𝑘 (
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡
)

5) Tension capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑛𝑜𝑚 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.4.2]

𝑃𝑛𝑜𝑚 = 0.8𝑝𝑡 𝐴𝑡 = 0.8 × 240 × 303 × 10−3 = 58.18 𝑘𝑁 > (𝐹𝑡 = 44.19 𝑘𝑁) __ 𝑜𝑘
6) Combined check: [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.4.4]
𝐹𝑠 𝐹𝑡
+𝑃 ≤ 1.4
𝑃𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑚

23.2 44.19
+ 58.18 = 1.2 < 1.4 __ 𝑜𝑘
48.48

7) Bearing capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑏𝑏 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.3.2]

(𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 20𝑚𝑚) > (𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 305 × 305 𝑈𝐶 97, 𝑇 = 15.4𝑚𝑚) __ 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑡 = 15.4𝑚𝑚
𝑃𝑏𝑏 = 𝑝𝑏𝑏 𝑑𝑡 = 460 × 22 × 15.4 × 10−3 = 155.85 𝑘𝑁 > (𝐹𝑠 = 23.2 𝑘𝑁) __ 𝑜𝑘 (𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦)
8) Bearing capacity of plate (𝑃𝑏𝑠 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.3.3]
𝑃𝑏𝑠 = 𝑝𝑏𝑠 𝑑𝑡 = 155.85 𝑘𝑁 > (𝐹𝑠 = 23.2 𝑘𝑁) __ 𝑜𝑘 (𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦) (𝑑 = 22𝑚𝑚 < 𝑒/2 = 35𝑚𝑚)

Example 6 (Bracket connection – Direct Shear & Tension)

Considering the shear and tension in bolts, determine

the maximum distance (𝑒) at which the load (300 𝑘𝑁)
could safely be applied eccentric with the connection.
Bolts: Bracket plates:
𝑇𝑦𝑝𝑒: 𝑁𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒: 𝑆460
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒: 10.9 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠: 15 𝑚𝑚 (𝑎𝑙𝑙)
Eng. Nyazi Tawfeeg

𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟: 20 𝑚𝑚
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 = 6 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠
𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑚.

8 of 10
 Design of Steel Structures (BS 5950-1:2000) Bolted Connections
Solution: (𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑)
1) Direct shear force (𝐹𝑠 ):
𝑃 300
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑛 = = 50 𝑘𝑁
6

2) Tension force (𝐹𝑡 ):

𝑃𝑒𝑦
𝐹𝑡 = 2 ∑ 𝑦 12

𝑦1 = 160 𝑚𝑚 , ∑ 𝑦 2 = 1602 + 802 = 32 000 𝑚𝑚2

300×𝑒×160
𝐹𝑡 = = 0.75𝑒
2×32000

3) Shear capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑠 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.2]

𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑡
𝑃𝑠 = 𝑝𝑠 𝐴𝑠 = 400 × 245 × 10−3 = 98 𝑘𝑁 (
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡
)

4) Tension capacity of bolt (𝑃𝑛𝑜𝑚 ): [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.4.2]

𝑃𝑛𝑜𝑚 = 0.8𝑝𝑡 𝐴𝑡 = 0.8 × 700 × 245 × 10−3 = 137.2 𝑘𝑁 ≥ (𝐹𝑡 = 0.75𝑒)
𝑒 ≤ 137.2/0.75 = 182.9 𝑚𝑚 (𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠)

5) Combined check: [𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 6.3.4.4]

𝐹𝑠 𝐹𝑡
+𝑃 ≤ 1.4
𝑃𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑚

50 0.75𝑒 137.2 50 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑

+ 137.2 ≤ 1.4 ⇒ 𝑒≤ (1.4 − 98) ⇒ 𝑒 ≤ 162.8 𝑚𝑚 (
𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒
)
98 0.75

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑒𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑒 = 162.8 𝑚𝑚 .

Eng. Nyazi Tawfeeg

9 of 10
Design of Steel Structures (BS 5950-1:2000) Bolted Connections

Non-preloaded Ordinary Black Bolts

Bolt Size
(𝑑 𝑚𝑚) 12 16 20 22 24 27 30
Standard Hole Size
(𝐷 𝑚𝑚) 13 18 22 24 26 30 33
Sectional Area at Shank
(𝐴 𝑚𝑚2 ) 113 201 314 380 452 572 706
Sectional Area at Thread
(𝐴𝑡 𝑚𝑚2 ) 84.3 157 245 303 353 459 561

Eng. Nyazi Tawfeeg

10 of 10