Lack of Fit in High Strength Bolted Connections
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 110, Issue 6
Abstract
The significance of lack of fit in structural steelwork for buildings is studied. Lack of fit is caused by rolling or fabrication tolerances, welding distortions, etc. When imperfect fit occurs between elements, supposedly transferring load, site disputes often arise over the necessity for remedial action. Imperfect contact is of particular significance in friction‐type bolted connections when there may be visible separation between the faying surfaces. The paper reviews the effect of imperfect contact on the development and maintenance of the bolt preload, the required contact area size and disposition, the coefficient of slip, joint slip resistance and ultimate strength of the connection. It is concluded that lack of fit is detrimental for some slip resistant and fatigue resistant joints but otherwise is not structurally significant, especially where the bolts act primarily as high tensile fasteners. To clarify this distinction, the use of friction‐type bolts in general is reviewed. Test results pertaining to lack of fit in flush end‐plate connections are presented.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
American Institute of Steel Construction, “Manual of Steel Construction,” 7th ed., AISC, New York, N.Y., 1975.
2.
Bouwman, L. P., “Some Observations Concerning the Effect of the Shape of Flanges used to Couple Tubes on the Dynamic Stress on Flange Bolts,” Interim Report, Stevin Laboratory, Dept. of Civil Engrg., Delft Univ. of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
3.
Bouwman, L. P., and van Douwen, A. A., “The Tightening of Bolts,” Stevin Laboratory, Delft Univ. of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
4.
Construction Industry Research and Information Association, “Lack of Fit in Steel Structures,” Report No. 87, CIRIA, London, England, June, 1980.
5.
Cullimore, M. S. G., and Eckhart, J. B., “The Distribution of the Clamping Pressure in Friction Grip Bolted Joints,” The Structural Engineer, Vol. 52, London, England, Apr., 1974.
6.
Fisher, J. W., and Struik, J. H., “Guide to Design Criteria for Bolted and Riveted Joints,” John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 1974.
7.
Knox, H. S., and Evans, J., discussion to Reference 9, Journal the Structural Division, ASCE, Vol. 94, No. ST9, Sept., 1968, pp. 2174–2175.
8.
Mann, A. P., and Morris, L. J., “Limit Design of Extended End‐Plate Connections,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 105, No. ST3, Mar., 1979.
9.
Vasarhelyi, D. D., and Chen, C. C., “Bolted Joints with Plates of Different Plate Thicknesses,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 93, No. ST6, Dec., 1967.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1984 ASCE.
History
Published online: Jun 1, 1984
Published in print: Jun 1984
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.