Basic Concepts in

connections
 Principles in detailing
Connections are the last straw of strength
Make a way for the load to flow
 Structures are forgiving – give them a chance to help
you
 More material is not more strength in connections
 Make it “simple and stupid”

2
 Detailing # 1

Bad! Good!
3
 Detailing # 2

Bad! Good!
4
 Detailing # 3

Bad! Good!
5
 Detailing # 4

Bad! Good!
6
 Bolt shear load capacities
Grade 4.6 Bolt Strengths where kf =1.0
Tensile area Single Shear Double Shear
Hole dia As fVf fVf
(mm) (mm²) (kN) (kN)
M12 14 84.3 16.7 33.5
M16 18 157 31.1 62.3
M20 22 245 48.6 97.2
M24 26 353 70.0 140.1
M30 33 561 111.3 222.6

Grade 8.8 Bolt Strengths

Tensile area Single Shear Double Shear
Hole dia As fVf fVf
(mm) (mm²) (kN) (kN)
M12 14 84.3 34.7 69.4
M16 18 157 64.6 129.3
M20 22 245 100.9 201.7
M24 26 353 145.3 290.6
M30 33 561 231.0 461.9

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Connected parts in tension &
shear
• The tension resistance of the plate or
cleat is
N*t ≤fNt= f 0.85 kt Anet fup
or f Anet fyp

• Shear capacity of cleat

V* ≤ fVv = f0.6fyAv Photo (c) T McCarthy

Av = shear area of leg

Table 3.4 gives f for plate or cleat is 0.9

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Shear rupture
• Possible shear
rupture along green a1
line
Lv
• Shear area,
Aveff = tw*Lveff a3

where a2
Lveff = Lv +L1+L2

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Bolts in Tension (Clause 9.3.2.2)

• Tension resistance is
– N*tf ≤ fNtf = f fuf As

Photo (c) T McCarthy

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Bolt load capacities
Grade 4.6 Bolt Strengths where kf =1.0
Tensile area Single Shear Double Shear Tension capacity
Hole dia As fVf fVf fNtf
(mm) (mm²) (kN) (kN) (kN)
M12 14 84.3 16.7 33.5 27.0
M16 18 157 31.1 62.3 50.2
M20 22 245 48.6 97.2 78.4
M24 26 353 70.0 140.1 113.0
M30 33 561 111.3 222.6 179.5

Grade 8.8 Bolt Strengths

Tensile area Single Shear Double Shear Tension capacity
Hole dia As fVf fVf fNtf
(mm) (mm²) (kN) (kN) (kN)
M12 14 84.3 34.7 69.4 56.0
M16 18 157 64.6 129.3 104.2
M20 22 245 100.9 201.7 162.7
M24 26 353 145.3 290.6 234.4
M30 33 561 231.0 461.9 372.5

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Moment connections
610UB101Grade 300

M*=45 kNm

V*= 400 kN
310UC158 Grade 300

Bolts in torsion Bolts in tension

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Moment connections
• RIGID connections
that must have the
same load resistance
as the connected
member
 SEMI-RIGID
Elastic analysis is Photo (c) ESDEP Teaching Resource

used to get moment

distribution

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Shear & Torsion = Shear
Figure 12.2 Bolt group in shear & torsion

M
T

R1 V/6

Resultant
R2
T (R2/R1)

Torque = M R1/S (Ri)²

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Shear & Tension Interaction
Bolt group in shear & tension For two vertical
lines of bolts
Ft.max = 0.5 Mz1/S(zi)².
M
Ftmax

Ft.max(z2/z1)

z1 z2 z3 z4

2 2
 V *
  N *

Centre of rotation  f
  tf
  1.0
Clause 9.3.2.3  fV f 

 fN
 tf



IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

• Determine the Moment carrying capacity of
this connection 203UC46.2 4M24 Gr8.8
Flange Centre of rotation
11mm thk

51
141m = M*
M* 203m m 90
m =

Plate 20mm thk

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998
 • Determine the Moment carrying capacity
of this connection
Flange Centre of rotation
11mm thk

51 T2
141 =
M* 203m 90
= Tmax
m

Plate 20mm thk End on view

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Fin plate welded to column

Photo (c) ESDEP Teaching Resource

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

Truss - Column connection

Photo (c) ESDEP Teaching Resource

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Extended End plate

Photo (c) ESDEP

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

Heavy truss connections with
gussets

Photo (c) ESDEP Teaching Resource

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Castellated beam moment
connection

Photo (c) ESDEP Teaching Resource

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Stiffened Column Web

Photo (c) T McCarthy

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Pin joint

Photo (c) T McCarthy

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Slotted holes 1
Why would we use such a detail?

Photo (c) T McCarthy

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Slotted holes

Photo (c) T McCarthy

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

 Summary
• Connected parts remain rigid
• All deformation in bolt or weld
• Consider all possible failure mechanisms
• Welds fail on throat at stress of fuw
• Combination of tension and shear in bolts is
nonlinear
• Weld group design similar to plate girder design
– Welds on flanges for moment
– Welds on web for shear

IIT MADRAS Connection design - AS 4100 : 1998

THANK YOU