Light-Gage Steel Bolted Connections without Washers

The behavior of bolted connections without washers in light-gage steel is studied by extensive testing. Influence of pertinent parameters such as bolt diameter, edge distance, bolt spacing, etc., on the strength of the bolted connections are explored. Empirical formulas are presented and compared against those for bolted connections with washers. Warping of free edges, which occurs towards the end of testing, has negligible effect on the load carrying capacity of the connection. Tensile stress on net section at failure is a function of r, F_ut, and d/s. By intuition the allowable shear stress on the gross cross-sectional area of bolts is the same for bolts with and without washers. The 23 confirmatory tests with washers compared favorably (within ±20%) with those of Winter's. The slip loads were generally raised with higher torques.