Spacing requirement:

Table 33 in BS 5950 gives standard dimensions of holes for use with non-preloaded bolts.

Spacing of fasteners, end and edge distance

Minimum requirements:

- Centers of fasteners 2.5 d

- Edge and end distances

rolled, swan, planed or machine flame cut 1.25 D

- Sheared or hand flame cut 1.4 D

Maximum requirements:

- Center of fasteners in unstiffened plate direction of stress 14t

where t is the thickness of the thinner element

- If it exposed to corrosive influence, max. spacing is the lesser of 16t or 200 mm

Edge distances

- Distance to the nearest line of fasteners from the edge of unstiffened part
11t

- If it exposed to corrosive influence, the edge distance should not exceed 40mm+4t

Edge Distance, is the distance from the center of hole to nearest edge measured at right angle to
the direction of the load.

End Distance, is the distance from the center of the hole to the edge in the direction of the load
transfer
1) Effective area resisting shear
when shear plane occurs in the threaded portion of the bolts
As = A t
where At is the nominal tensile stress area of the bolt
When the shear plane occurs in the non-threaded portion:
As = A
where A is the bolt shank area based on the nominal diameter.
2) Shear capacity Ps of a bolt:
Ps = ps As

where ps is shear strength given in Table 30 of the revised code.

3) Block shear:
Pr = 0.6py t [Lv + ke (Lt − k Dt)] ≥ Fr
where Dt is the hole diameter along tension face, ke the coefficient with
values as follows: −0.5 for single lines of bolts; −2.5 for two lines of bolts; Lt the
length of tension face, Lv the length of shear face and t the thickness.
4) Bearing capacity should be taken as lesser of:
Capacity of the bolt, Pbb = d tp pbb
Capacity of the connected part: Pbs = kbs d tp pbs ≤ 0.5kbs e t pbs
where d is the nominal diameter of bolt, tp the thickness of connected
part and pbb the bearing strength of bolt given in Table 31 of the code
and pbs is the bearing strength of the connected parts given in Table 32 of
the code, e the end distance and kbs the coefficient depending on the type of
hole: 1.0 for standard clearance hole, 0.7 for oversize, short or long slotted
hole, and 0.5 for kidney-shaped slotted hole.
The second part of the bearing check ensures that the plate does not fail
by end shear as in mode 3.
it should be noted that the minimum end distance to ensure that the
bearing capacity of the connected part is controlled by the bearing on the
plate, and is given by equating:
 Pbs = kbs d tp pbs = 0.5kbs e t pbs
Hence, e is end distance

Table 10.1 Non-preloaded bolts in standard clearance holes (shear and bearing strengths of
bolts and connected parts in N/mm2)

Tables 31,32,33 and 34 of the code

Direct tension joints
Two methods are now permitted; either the simple or more exact method
can be used.
(1) Tension capacity of bolts—simple method
The nominal tension capacity using the simple method is:
Pnom = 0.8 pt At
where pt is the tension strength from Table 34 of the code,
= 240 N/mm2 for Grade 4.6 bolts, = 560 N/mm2 for Grade 8.8 bolts and At
the nominal tensile stress area.
(2) Tension capacity of bolts—more exact method
The tension capacity is:
Pt = pt At
Prying forces are set up in the T-joint with bolts in tension, as shown in
Figure

Eccentric connections
There are two principal types of eccentrically loaded connections:
(1) Bolt group in direct shear and torsion; and
(2) Bolt group in direct shear and tension.
  Bolts in direct shear and torsion
The load FT due to moment on the maximum loaded bolt is given by
P.e.r1
FT 
 x2   y2
The load Fs due to direct shear is given by
P
Fs 
noofbolts

The resultant load FR on bolt


FR  FT sin    Fs  FT cos  
2

2 0.5

The size of bolt required can then be

determined
from the maximum load on bolt
  Bolts in direct shear and tension

The factored applied shear FS must not exceed the shear capacity Ps ,
where Ps = ps As
The factored applied tension FT must not exceed the tension capacity PT
where PT = 0.8 pt At
In addition to the above the following relationship must be satisfied:
Fs FT
  1.4
Ps PT

The maximum bolt tension is:

FT  P.e. y1 / 2 y 2

The vertical shear per bolt:

Fs = P/No of bolts
A bolt size is assumed and checked for combined shear and tension as
described above.